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Mike and Clarissa livestream, Texas floodwaters rise, and Lia Thomas loses swimming titles.
Welcome to this week’s edition of Headliner, a news digest from The Bulletin podcast by Christianity Today. Find all of our episodes of The Bulletin here.
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Learn More About Today’s Episode
The Rains Came Down (and the Floods Went Up). Texas is bracing for more flooding after last weekend’s historic disaster that claimed many lives, including 27 girls from a Christian camp along the Guadalupe River. Mike and Clarissa talk about the role of Christian lament in the face of unfathomable tragedy.
Bibi Goes to Washington. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting President Trump this week to talk about the continuing turmoil in the Middle East. Mike says that an important part of international diplomacy is the pageantry of such get togethers. We’re watching Mr. Trump’s comments on Truth Social for clues about his response to the meeting.
UPenn Does the Backstroke. In a surprising gesture of compliance with federal orders, the University of Pennsylvania has agreed to ban trans athletes from women’s sports. Swimmer Lia Thomas of the university has had all swimming titles revoked as a result. Clarissa asks Mike how Christians who wanted a result like this can remain humble in the midst of political success.
Dive Deeper
Frequently on The Bulletin, we ask some form of the question: “Who’s driving this bus?” That is to say, is anybody actually in charge? Who’s responsible here?
When we ask about who’s driving the bus, what we often really want is assurance that someone actually is sitting in the seat of power, that we’re not left to our own folly and devices. In a world with headlines like the ones we see every week, it’s a valid (and sometimes scary) question to ask.
Thankfully, a Christian can rest assured that Jesus is always at the wheel. Or, as former Bulletin guest Sho Baraka puts it, “God’s still on the throne.” If you think an answer like that is too simplistic, Baraka says, you might need to spend a little more time with the prophet Jeremiah.
Wondering more about God’s power in human affairs?
Read Sho’s piece, “In Defense of Colloquial Theology,” to better understand why the simple truths of Christian faith can often hold the most reassurance in times of distress and uncertainty.
Listen to Russell Moore and pastor Ray Ortlund describe the stability we can find in the midst of unbearable and unexplainable struggles in episode 172 of The Russell Moore Show.
Read Tim Dalrymple’s closing reflection on the expansiveness of the kingdom of God, as Tim bids farewell to his years as president and CEO of Christianity Today. We’re sad to see Tim go but joyfully anticipate how God will use him as president and CEO of the John Templeton Foundation.
Our Latest at The Bulletin
Last Friday’s Roundtable (Episode 187): Mike Cosper,
and Russell Moore discuss a conversation between venture capitalist Peter Thiel and The New York Times’ Ross Douthat. Then, CT’s senior feature writer Andy Olsen joins the show to talk about the deportation of Iranian Christians. Finally, CT’s Megan Fowler drops by to tell us why Christians shouldn’t throw summer camp in the bonfire.Grab a Bumper Sticker for your car and share your Bulletin love wherever you travel this summer! (Extra points if you send us a picture of your bumper sticker out in the wild.)