# 8-6-23 - Good News Sunday: Water Crisis, Space Cloud, & Cancer Research

An episode of [Pray News](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1697158801), 6 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-b4d6010c32c6/2c4e1ba9-9264-4fde-b015-b4d70022e761/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: • Some hopeful progress combatting the water crisis. • A cloud of water vapor was discovered in space. • We revisit our favorite good news story of the week. 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: Whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things
[0:03] Speaker 1: are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely,
[0:07] Speaker 1: whatever things are of good rapport, there is any virtue,
[0:10] Speaker 1: and if there is any praise, think about these things.
[0:14] Speaker 1: Philippians 4, 8 Dear Heavenly Father, we confess that sometimes
[0:19] Speaker 1: our thoughts get tangled up in worries, complaints, and less
[0:22] Speaker 1: than lovely things in life. Yet, your word calls us
[0:25] Speaker 1: to a higher path than complaints. So today, We ask
[0:28] Speaker 1: for a delightful dose of your divine perspective. Help us
[0:32] Speaker 1: to see the world through your eyes, noticing the noble,
[0:34] Speaker 1: focusing on the fun, and pondering the praiseworthy. Grant us
[0:38] Speaker 1: the grace to laugh at our mistakes, to have joy
[0:41] Speaker 1: in simple pleasures, and to celebrate the countless excellent things
[0:45] Speaker 1: that surround us, instead of dwelling on only the negative.
[0:49] Speaker 1: From the beauty of the sunset to the taste of
[0:51] Speaker 1: a well-cooked meal, may we find joy in the simple
[0:54] Speaker 1: things today. We appreciate all the wonderful things you have
[0:57] Speaker 1: given us, and we praise you for them. In Jesus' name, amen.
[1:03] Speaker 1: Welcome to Pre-News, where hope is our only bias. Today's
[1:06] Speaker 1: good news at a glance, some hopeful progress combating the
[1:09] Speaker 1: world's water crisis, a cloud of water vapor was discovered
[1:12] Speaker 1: in space, and we revisit one of our favorite good
[1:15] Speaker 1: news stories of the week. Today is our first edition
[1:18] Speaker 1: of Good News Sunday, a time when we look at
[1:20] Speaker 1: current or past stories that remind us to have hope
[1:23] Speaker 1: in this world. let's meditate on what's good today, fueling
[1:26] Speaker 1: our souls for the week ahead. If you've been blessed
[1:29] Speaker 1: by this take on the news so far, be sure
[1:31] Speaker 1: to follow and subscribe so you never have to miss
[1:33] Speaker 1: an episode. You can also sign up for our newsletter
[1:35] Speaker 1: at praynews.com. So before we get into it, let's hear
[1:39] Speaker 1: a word from these sponsors. Our first story of today
[1:42] Speaker 1: is about the world's water crisis. If you've traversed down
[1:46] Speaker 1: the roads of rural communities on the coast of Lake
[1:48] Speaker 1: Victoria in Uganda, or marched through the jungle communities on
[1:51] Speaker 1: the borders of Guatemala and Honduras, you would no doubt
[1:54] Speaker 1: see the occasional group of women and children carrying large
[1:57] Speaker 1: plastic containers to water reservoirs. Some of these water sources
[2:01] Speaker 1: are rivers coursing through the jungles or wells dug where
[2:04] Speaker 1: the farmland meets the mountains. Water is a source of
[2:08] Speaker 1: life for all humans. Without it, we can't survive. But
[2:12] Speaker 1: unfortunately for many, it is also a source of death.
[2:15] Speaker 1: The water many of these people draw from is contaminated
[2:18] Speaker 1: with all sorts of infectious diseases, bacteria, and contaminants. It
[2:22] Speaker 1: is estimated that 2 billion people in the world don't
[2:25] Speaker 1: have access to clean water, leading to disease and a
[2:28] Speaker 1: decrease of life expectancy around the world. One person dies
[2:32] Speaker 1: every 37 seconds from water-related illnesses, and 50% of the
[2:37] Speaker 1: developing world's hospital beds are filled with people suffering from
[2:40] Speaker 1: water-related diseases. Additionally, the reservoirs for drinking water are often
[2:46] Speaker 1: miles away from these communities. Women collectively spend about 200
[2:50] Speaker 1: million hours per day walking for water, a task that
[2:54] Speaker 1: takes away from opportunities for work, education, and family. There
[2:58] Speaker 1: is a humanitarian toll that the water crisis takes as well,
[3:02] Speaker 1: with corrupt governments and cartels restricting access to everyday people.
[3:06] Speaker 1: But this is supposed to be Good News Sunday, right? Well,
[3:10] Speaker 1: we do have some good news. For the past 10 years,
[3:13] Speaker 1: NGOs and global nonprofits have been working tirelessly to to
[3:17] Speaker 1: respond to the world's water crisis. Mobilized with compassion and
[3:20] Speaker 1: fueled by love, men and women all over the world
[3:23] Speaker 1: have unified to meet the needs of suffering people around
[3:26] Speaker 1: the world. While the rest of the world reels in
[3:28] Speaker 1: division over so many different types of things, whether it
[3:31] Speaker 1: be trade wars, whether it be nuclear power, all of
[3:34] Speaker 1: these things that people debate on, there has been a
[3:37] Speaker 1: unified process from non-profit organizations, big businesses, governments around the world,
[3:43] Speaker 1: they have mobilized to meet this global need. The WHO
[3:47] Speaker 1: and UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program has launched a recent report
[3:52] Speaker 1: of staggering progress in clean water initiatives worldwide. Since 2015,
[3:58] Speaker 1: coverage of water projects worldwide increased from 56% to 62%
[4:01] Speaker 1: in rural areas. Projections show that 32 at-risk countries are
[4:08] Speaker 1: on track to have universal access to clean water by 2030.
[4:12] Speaker 1: That was unheard of 10 years ago, but now, because
[4:15] Speaker 1: of the love and the fire and passion that so
[4:18] Speaker 1: many people have shown every single day, despite hardship, we
[4:22] Speaker 1: are going to see this water crisis ended. This staggering
[4:26] Speaker 1: and encouraging process is in large part due to the
[4:28] Speaker 1: faithfulness of Christian organizations that are mobilized by the love
[4:32] Speaker 1: of Christ. One of those organizations is Water Missions International.
[4:37] Speaker 1: Since 2001, Water Mission has been mobilizing with the heart
[4:40] Speaker 1: of Christ to serve more than 8 million people in
[4:43] Speaker 1: 60 countries with clean drinking water. Not only that, but
[4:46] Speaker 1: they have provided humanitarian aid and disaster relief to countries
[4:51] Speaker 1: that have experienced natural disasters. Their efforts are more than
[4:55] Speaker 1: dropping in, giving some supplies, taking a few pictures, and
[4:58] Speaker 1: dropping out. That seems to be the process of a
[5:01] Speaker 1: lot of short-term missions projects. But water missions has been
[5:05] Speaker 1: around for decades now. And they are dedicated to seeing
[5:09] Speaker 1: these communities uplifted and being able to help themselves. As
[5:14] Speaker 1: the old adage says, give a man a fish, he'll
[5:16] Speaker 1: be fed for a day. But give a man a
[5:18] Speaker 1: fishing pole, and he will be fed for the rest
[5:20] Speaker 1: of his life. Now, water missions, along with several other partners,
[5:24] Speaker 1: have built long-lasting relationships with communities to build and manage
[5:29] Speaker 1: community water filtration systems. This has been bolstering local economies,
[5:33] Speaker 1: it's empowered leaders in the community, and it's literally transformed
[5:38] Speaker 1: certain cities. This has not only transformed the health of
[5:41] Speaker 1: the communities around the world, but it has also contributed
[5:45] Speaker 1: to the global economy. Economists say that for every $ 1
[5:48] Speaker 1: invested in safe water, you yield $ 6. 80 in economic return.
[5:54] Speaker 1: This is because when people are healthy and have time,
[5:57] Speaker 1: they're able to make money. They're able to contribute to
[6:00] Speaker 1: their families. They're able to provide for their communities. All
[6:03] Speaker 1: of these things are amazing. Water Mission believes that we
[6:06] Speaker 1: can end the global crisis in our lifetime, and they're
[6:09] Speaker 1: actively working towards that goal. They have passion. they have tact,
[6:14] Speaker 1: and they have good relationships and resources. The global water
[6:17] Speaker 1: crisis may seem overwhelming to so many of us, but
[6:21] Speaker 1: the work of water missions and other organizations like it
[6:24] Speaker 1: offer us a beacon of hope that we as everyday
[6:27] Speaker 1: citizens are able to actually make an impact. By investing
[6:31] Speaker 1: in safe water and sanitation for people worldwide, we can
[6:34] Speaker 1: make a tangible difference in the lives of billions of people.
[6:38] Speaker 1: This is the call of Christ to meet the needs
[6:40] Speaker 1: of those struggling, In Matthew 25, Jesus said that serving
[6:44] Speaker 1: those in need is the same as serving him. For
[6:46] Speaker 1: I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat.
[6:48] Speaker 1: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was
[6:51] Speaker 1: a stranger, and you took me in. I was naked,
[6:53] Speaker 1: and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me.
[6:56] Speaker 1: I was in prison, and you came to me. Jesus
[6:59] Speaker 1: said that whatever we do unto the least of these,
[7:02] Speaker 1: we are doing unto him. This Good News Sunday, let's
[7:05] Speaker 1: celebrate the Christlike love that is being shown to those
[7:09] Speaker 1: in need and consider how we might contribute to this
[7:11] Speaker 1: vital cause as well. With faith, love, and action, we
[7:14] Speaker 1: can be a part of the solution. So let's consider
[7:17] Speaker 1: what we can do on our part. Let's consider how
[7:19] Speaker 1: we can think globally and act locally, whether it be
[7:22] Speaker 1: through fundraising, whether it be through volunteering, whatever it might be,
[7:26] Speaker 1: let's think about how we can bless people around the world.
[7:29] Speaker 1: So with all that in mind, let's lift this up
[7:32] Speaker 1: in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for inspiring and
[7:35] Speaker 1: selfless efforts of organizations and individuals mobilized by you and
[7:39] Speaker 1: empowered by your spirit to alleviate the global water crisis.
[7:43] Speaker 1: Please continue to guide and empower them to provide clean
[7:46] Speaker 1: water to those in need, reflecting your love and compassion.
[7:49] Speaker 1: Let us also find ways to contribute to this essential cause,
[7:52] Speaker 1: recognizing our call to serve others as we serve you.
[7:56] Speaker 1: In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Our second story of
[7:59] Speaker 1: today is out of this world, literally. Buckle up for
[8:01] Speaker 1: an interstellar journey as we explore a fascinating discovery that's
[8:05] Speaker 1: got scientists and stargazers alike bubbling with excitement. It's a
[8:08] Speaker 1: tale of water vapor, Goldilocks zones, and a star system
[8:11] Speaker 1: that's just 370 light years away, which in cosmic terms
[8:15] Speaker 1: is practically next door. The James Webb Space Telescope has
[8:19] Speaker 1: spotted water vapor hanging out at exactly the same distance
[8:22] Speaker 1: from star PDS-70, as Earth sits from the Sun. This star,
[8:27] Speaker 1: located in the constellation Centaurus, is surrounded by two large,
[8:31] Speaker 1: dusty accretion disks, and the space between them is a
[8:35] Speaker 1: whopping 5 billion miles. With this vast in-between, there are
[8:39] Speaker 1: two still-forming Jupiter-like planets. But the real showstopper is the
[8:44] Speaker 1: presence of water vapor at 94 million miles from the star.
[8:49] Speaker 1: This distance is sometimes called the Goldilocks Zone. because it's
[8:52] Speaker 1: not too hot and not too cold, making it just
[8:55] Speaker 1: right for the possibility of supporting liquid water. This discovery
[8:59] Speaker 1: is the first detection of water in a terrestrial region
[9:02] Speaker 1: of a disk known as protoplanets. It's a big deal,
[9:06] Speaker 1: because it might unveil a third theory about how water
[9:09] Speaker 1: forms in space. Two riddles remain unsolved, though. How the
[9:13] Speaker 1: water got there in the first place, and how it
[9:15] Speaker 1: has survived so long in conditions that could reach 300
[9:18] Speaker 1: degrees Celsius. The team of astronomers has some hypotheses. But
[9:23] Speaker 1: the mystery continues to unfold. As we marvel at the
[9:26] Speaker 1: wonders of the universe and the intricate design of creation,
[9:28] Speaker 1: the presence of water vapor in the Goldilocks zone of
[9:31] Speaker 1: a distant star system reminds us of the delicate balance
[9:34] Speaker 1: and fine-tuning that allows life to thrive. It also calls
[9:38] Speaker 1: for us to be mindful as we are stewards of
[9:40] Speaker 1: the water and resources we have here on Earth. As
[9:43] Speaker 1: we learn more about the cosmos, we are reminded of
[9:46] Speaker 1: our responsibility to care for the creation that God has
[9:48] Speaker 1: given us. The team will continue to study PDS-70, and
[9:53] Speaker 1: who knows what other surprises this star system has in store.
[9:56] Speaker 1: Until then, let's keep our eyes on the stars and
[9:59] Speaker 1: our hearts filled with gratitude for the wonders of creation. So,
[10:03] Speaker 1: with all this in mind, let's lift it up in prayer.
[10:06] Speaker 1: Creator of the universe, we stand in awe of the
[10:09] Speaker 1: mysteries and wonders you have crafted in the cosmos. Thank
[10:12] Speaker 1: you for the discovery that stirs our imagination and reminds
[10:16] Speaker 1: us of your grand design. Guide us to be responsible
[10:19] Speaker 1: stewards of the earth and inspire us to keep exploring, learning,
[10:23] Speaker 1: and marveling at the beauty of creation. In Jesus' name
[10:27] Speaker 1: we pray. Amen. Our last story is some good news
[10:30] Speaker 1: taken from earlier this week. There are plenty of doom
[10:33] Speaker 1: and gloom stories regarding technology and AI, but we found
[10:37] Speaker 1: a pretty good silver lining. Breast cancer remains one of
[10:41] Speaker 1: the most prevalent and deadly diseases among women worldwide. Early
[10:45] Speaker 1: detection is key to successful treatment. But traditional screening methods
[10:49] Speaker 1: can sometimes fall short. And in a promising development, a
[10:52] Speaker 1: recent Swedish trial has shown that artificial intelligence, AI, can
[10:56] Speaker 1: improve the detection rate of breast cancer by 20%, a
[10:59] Speaker 1: significant advancement in the field of medical diagnostics. The study,
[11:04] Speaker 1: published by the Lancet Oncology, involved over 80,000 women in Sweden.
[11:10] Speaker 1: Half of the participants had their mammograms analyzed by two
[11:13] Speaker 1: radiologists without AI support. while the other half were screened
[11:17] Speaker 1: with the aid of AI and radiographer. The AI-supported analysis
[11:21] Speaker 1: demonstrated a detection rate of 20% higher than the traditional method,
[11:26] Speaker 1: and radiologists' reading time was reduced by 44%. This is
[11:31] Speaker 1: a huge and wonderful advancement in technology, but we're going
[11:35] Speaker 1: to approach it with a realistic lens as well. The
[11:37] Speaker 1: study also acknowledged that AI is not ready to be
[11:40] Speaker 1: implemented universally. Concerns about AI's unpredictability, potential over-detection of harmless lesions,
[11:46] Speaker 1: and other errors that might not be explainable are addressed.
[11:50] Speaker 1: These considerations highlight the complexity of incorporating AI into healthcare
[11:55] Speaker 1: and need careful evaluation for continued research. The trial's findings
[12:00] Speaker 1: have ignited interest in the potential, though, for opportunities and
[12:04] Speaker 1: risks that AI pose for medicine and the broader world.
[12:07] Speaker 1: It comes amid a dramatically shifting landscape for technology and
[12:11] Speaker 1: its regulation. as governments and institutions grapple with the ethics
[12:15] Speaker 1: and practices of AI's expanding role in various domains, including healthcare,
[12:20] Speaker 1: not just tech companies. This groundbreaking study opens doors to
[12:24] Speaker 1: many possibilities and discussions, from enhancing healthcare accessibility to ethical
[12:29] Speaker 1: considerations of public trust. It's a nuanced subject that requires
[12:32] Speaker 1: a balanced examination, taking into account technological advancements, global needs,
[12:37] Speaker 1: and moral perspectives. You see, there's an embrace of AI
[12:41] Speaker 1: and there's an apprehension to embrace AI. The deployment of
[12:45] Speaker 1: AI in healthcare, as demonstrated by this Swedish study, represents
[12:48] Speaker 1: a technological milestone with significant potential benefits. However, it has
[12:53] Speaker 1: sparked apprehensions among the public and within the medical community.
[12:57] Speaker 1: Concerns about how algorithms are trained and validated and potentials
[13:01] Speaker 1: for bias over diagnosis and unpredictable errors are some of
[13:04] Speaker 1: the pressing issues. The regulatory landscape is also shifting, with
[13:08] Speaker 1: the EU planning stringent regulations around AI, reflecting a global
[13:13] Speaker 1: sentiment of caution. This study not only showcases the potential
[13:16] Speaker 1: for AI in increasing the accuracy of breast cancer detection,
[13:20] Speaker 1: but it also highlights how this technology could become a
[13:22] Speaker 1: powerful tool and medical aid globally. In regions where there's
[13:26] Speaker 1: a shortage of medical professionals or advanced equipment, AI can
[13:30] Speaker 1: bridge the gap, making crucial diagnostics more accessible, especially in
[13:34] Speaker 1: places like third world countries. The potential reduction in the
[13:37] Speaker 1: need for multiple medical professionals to read mammograms could also
[13:41] Speaker 1: translate into more widespread availability of screening, especially in underprivileged areas.
[13:46] Speaker 1: So here's a reflection for us. The integration of AI
[13:49] Speaker 1: into medicine can be seen as an extension of our
[13:52] Speaker 1: God-given creativity. If AI is developed with a focus on
[13:55] Speaker 1: ethics and compassion, it aligns with Christ's calling to love
[13:58] Speaker 1: and care for our neighbors. As we've said before, good
[14:01] Speaker 1: tools in the hands of good people can do great things. However,
[14:04] Speaker 1: we as the Christian community must also be vigilant to
[14:07] Speaker 1: ensure that technology isn't worshipped, leaving culture susceptible to corruption, greed,
[14:13] Speaker 1: and addiction to success. New technologies must be used with wisdom,
[14:16] Speaker 1: a justice, and a focus on the inherent dignity of
[14:19] Speaker 1: human life. Always asking the question just because we can
[14:23] Speaker 1: do something doesn't mean we should do something. So, concerns
[14:27] Speaker 1: about over-diagnosis, bias, and the potential harm should be taken seriously.
[14:31] Speaker 1: even though this does seem to be a great milestone
[14:34] Speaker 1: in detecting cancer. So, with all this being said, let's
[14:38] Speaker 1: lift it up in prayer. Dear Lord, we give you
[14:41] Speaker 1: thanks for the creativity and innovation you have granted to humankind,
[14:45] Speaker 1: leading to advancements in technology that have the potential to
[14:48] Speaker 1: heal and save lives. We pray for wisdom, discernment, and
[14:51] Speaker 1: compassion as we seek to integrate AI into healthcare, that
[14:55] Speaker 1: it may be used ethically and not just to benefit
[14:57] Speaker 1: the elites, but benefit all people. Guide researchers, policymakers, and
[15:02] Speaker 1: medical professionals to approach this technology with a focus on dignity,
[15:06] Speaker 1: human life, health, and ethics. And may we all be
[15:10] Speaker 1: vigilant in our own lives for the potential pitfalls of technology. Lord,
[15:14] Speaker 1: may we always strive to use our knowledge and resources
[15:17] Speaker 1: for love, care, and the betterment of society, loving our neighbors,
[15:21] Speaker 1: and reflecting your grace. We pray these things with trust.
[15:24] Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, amen. Thank you for joining us today
[15:27] Speaker 1: on Pray News. It is our aim to be informed
[15:29] Speaker 1: and transformed. We pray today you would proceed with hope, love,
[15:32] Speaker 1: and determination to be a force for good. If you've
[15:35] Speaker 1: enjoyed this take on the news, consider writing us a
[15:37] Speaker 1: review and share your experience. You can sign up for
[15:39] Speaker 1: our newsletter at PrayNews.com. There you will find all of
[15:42] Speaker 1: our past stories and the sources for all our reporting.
[15:45] Speaker 1: Be sure to download the Pray.com app to make prayer
[15:48] Speaker 1: a priority in your life and experience the Bible in
[15:51] Speaker 1: new and exciting ways.

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