Update 1176

On September 13, 2025, Kalon Mitchell will present the sermonette, titled, “The King’s Seer,” and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “Could Unpunctuality Be Sinful?”

The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

The saying “May the best player win” is often heard in sports or games. It expresses the desire that victory should go not to the ruthless or crafty, but to the truly more capable or skilled. Behind this stands an attitude of fairness and respect: one recognizes that the other person also deserves a chance—and that their success should elicit recognition rather than envy.

But in the reality of today’s society, things often look different. Performance, self-promotion, and competition shape the thinking of many people. Social media does not celebrate fairness, but mostly individual success. Even in everyday or professional life, the motto “The most important thing is that I win” often seems to apply.

In English, the saying goes, “The winner takes it all.” But what does that mean from a biblical perspective? What does God’s Word say about winning, losing, and what it means to truly take it all?

The world equates “winners” with power, influence, success, or wealth. But Jesus Christ’s victory over sin and death did not come through domination, but through sacrifice. Christ did not win by defeating others, but by sacrificing Himself. Many people saw His death on the cross as a defeat – but it was precisely there that He achieved the ultimate victory.

Jesus challenged the worldly idea of success. He said:

“Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant” (Matthew 20:26).

Even true Christians are not immune to comparing themselves with others: Who is more successful, more popular, more talented, or more “spiritual”? But the gospel calls us to a different Way of Life – to humility, to appreciation for our neighbors, and to gratitude.

The apostle Paul, who endured much suffering – shipwreck, beatings, imprisonment, abandonment – did not strive for worldly fame. His goal was different:

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

The true winner does not take anything away from others but receives what only God can give.

The Bible often uses metaphors from sports and competition to convey spiritual Truths: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it” (1 Corinthians 9:24).

For Christians, this means that we do not race against each other, but together toward Christ.

One of the greatest ideas in the Bible is that God’s victory is shared: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:21).

The path to the throne leads through humility: “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vain glory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3; New American Bible; the New Jerusalem Bible says, “…give preference to others”).

The world says: The winner takes it all.

Jesus asks: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).

To enter God’s Kingdom, we must give up everything in this life that stands in the way. This is how we receive eternal life. When we follow Christ, we do not chase after trophies. We carry our cross. We may lose a lot in this life – prestige, possessions, even our lives. But in the end, we gain the most important thing: eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

When we as Christians say, “May the best player win. The winner takes it all,” we recognize a deeper Truth in this: in the end, what matters is not whether we were better than others, but whether we remained faithful.

Paul gets to the heart of the matter: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Where do I find it difficult to acknowledge the success of others? Do I live my daily life according to the principle of “me first” – or in humility, considering “others as more important” than myself?

Which “victories” in faith are genuinely important to me – the recognition of people or faithfulness to God?

Let the world chase after its perishable crowns. We want to run the race that is set before us – toward the prize that never fades away (cf. Hebrews 12:1-2).

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

(Initial translation: Daniel Blasinger)

by Norbert Link

We begin with events and reports pertaining to Israel and the Middle East; address France’s situation; Britain’s dire future; and America’s relationship with Europe and Russia; the murder of Charlie Kirk; another example of stupid woke ideology; the new “War” Department; America’s economy and another controversial ICE raid in Georgia; and America’s tensions with Venezuela.

We speak on events in Germany (including the insane COVID policy) and conclude with the Roman Catholic Church’s newest saint—a 15-year-old boy who died of leukemia.

Throughout this section, we have underlined pertinent statements in the quoted articles, for the convenience and quick overview of the reader.  

France vs. USA 

Israel 365 News wrote on September 5: 

“French President Emmanuel Macron has once again demonstrated his willingness to appease terrorist-supporting regimes by condemning the United States’ entirely justified decision to deny visas to Palestinian Authority (PA) officials ahead of the United Nations General Assembly…. Following a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Macron called the American decision ‘unacceptable’. It demanded that ‘this measure be reversed and for Palestinian officials to be granted access’. The French president’s criticism followed the State Department’s announcement that it would deny visas to PA President Mahmoud Abbas, along with 80 other PA officials, who were planning to attend the UN General Assembly… 

“Macron’s criticism of American policy rings hollow given France’s abysmal record on protecting its Jewish citizens from rampant Islamic antisemitism… Macron’s criticism becomes even more problematic when viewed alongside France’s confirmed plans to recognize a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly… The timing of this recognition, coming after the October 7 massacre and during ongoing PA terror financing, demonstrates France’s moral bankruptcy on Middle Eastern issues.” 

France in Trouble 

Deutsche Welle reported on September 9:

“Macron was forced to appoint a fifth prime minister in less than two years after parliament ousted Francois Bayrou nine months into the role over his plans for taming the country’s ballooning debt. Bayrou officially tendered his resignation to Macron earlier on Tuesday, a day after his government was defeated in a confidence vote at the National Assembly… [Macron] chose Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu as the country’s new prime minister on Tuesday. His appointment… signals Macron’s intent to maintain a minority government…

“In handing the job to Lecornu, Macron risks alienating the center-left Socialist Party and leaves the president and his government depending on Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally for support in parliament.” 

A New Study About Israel—But Does the World Listen? 

The Jerusalem Post wrote on September 3: 

“Israel is fighting two wars against Hamas. The first is the grinding military campaign in Gaza. The other is the battle over narrative and legitimacy. On the first front, Israel is winning resoundingly: Hamas leaders and commanders eliminated, thousands of terrorists killed, its rocket arsenal depleted, its labyrinth of tunnels badly degraded. 

“On the second front, Israel is taking a beating. Or, as US President Donald Trump said on Friday, Israel ‘may be winning the war, but they’re not winning the world of public relations.’ 

“A new 311-page study by the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar-Ilan University (BESA) highlights just how distorted the conversation has become. This report systematically dismantles some of the most frequently leveled charges against Israel – genocide, deliberate starvation, indiscriminate killing – by reexamining casualty figures, food-truck deliveries, and UN reports. 

“It shows how Hamas has manipulated numbers, how UN agencies have quietly ‘corrected’ data without acknowledgment, and how aid organizations inflated needs in order to spur action. The report is not a whitewash. It concedes negligence, tragedy, and individual acts of IDF misconduct. But it demonstrates clearly that the sweeping allegation of genocide is without foundation. In short, it provides Israel with the kind of factual ammunition needed to fight the narrative war. 

“That’s the good news. The bad news is that it comes long after the damage has been done. Take the claim of an Israeli-induced famine.  For months, UN officials and international media declared that Gaza required 500 food trucks daily and that Israel was deliberately starving civilians… Yet prewar averages were closer to 73 trucks a day. During long stretches of the war, more food entered Gaza than before the October 7 massacre. Those facts are only now surfacing. But it’s too late. The accusation – that Israel weaponized famine – has already hardened into conventional wisdom. 

“… Or consider casualty figures. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported nearly every death as civilian, excluded combat-age men, and included natural deaths. International media parrot the numbers without question. Researchers are now exposing the statistical anomalies. Again – too late… And while the BESA report was being released in Israel, Reuters ran a wire story that illustrates exactly what is happening. The International Association of Genocide Scholars voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to declare that Israel’s ‘policies and actions in Gaza’ meet the definition of genocide. Fifteen paragraphs long, the story included applause from a Hamas-affiliated source in Gaza – Hamas, which openly calls for Israel’s eradication, the very definition of genocide. And Israel’s side? A single boilerplate sentence that quoted the Foreign Ministry denying the charge… 

“The Foreign Ministry would have done well to provide context: that less than a third of the members of this organization actually voted, and that the way the vote was conducted was problematic. Additionally, it would have been worth noting that one need not even have to be a ‘genocide scholar’ to be a member of this association… 

“That failure highlights the larger problem: Israel too often contents itself with a flat denial, while its enemies wage an organized campaign to shape the narrative… The study demonstrates that genocide – a deliberate campaign to eradicate a people – was not Israeli policy. On the contrary, Israel invested heavily in warnings, evacuation zones, and humanitarian corridors. Civilian-to-combatant ratios compare favorably with Western campaigns in Iraq or Afghanistan.” 

Very few even reported on this striking and revealing report. 

Israel’s Attack in Qatar 

Reuters reported on September 9:

“Israel attempted to kill the political leaders of Hamas with an airstrike on Qatar on Tuesday, escalating its military action in the Middle East with what the U.S. described as a unilateral attack that does not advance American and Israeli interests.

“U.S. President Donald Trump said he was ‘very unhappy about every aspect’ of the Israeli strike… While Israel defended the attacks as being justified, Qatar said Israel was treacherous and engaged in ‘state terrorism.’.. Trump said he considered hitting Hamas was a worthy goal, but he felt badly that the attack took place in the Gulf Arab state, which is a major non-NATO ally of Washington … The attack drew condemnation from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the European Union…

“Trump assured the emir of Qatar in a phone call after the attack that ‘such a thing will not happen again on their soil.’..

“The airstrike took place shortly after Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for a shooting on Monday that killed six people at a bus stop on the outskirts of Jerusalem… ‘The days are over when terror leaders can enjoy immunity of any kind,’ Netanyahu said in a televised address. ‘I won’t allow that kind of immunity to exist.’” 

Britain in the Eye of the Financial Storm 

UnHerd wrote on September 4: 

“As any analyst will tell you, it’s a mug’s game to predict crashes, but anyone could tell you western markets are facing a tempestuous autumn. And Britain is sitting squarely in the eye of the storm.  

“Amid weak growth and a worsening budget outlook, British gilt yields are now higher than they have been in nearly 30 years, rising steadily for months and nearly 1% since last year. With national debt of nearly £3 trillion, every percentage point increase in interest drains billions from the government’s budget. Nor is there much hope this will change anytime soon. Britain’s inflation is proving even harder to dislodge than that of other developed economies, adding a premium to its bonds. To a greater extent than other countries, too, it depends on external creditors for its lending — with 30% of gilts held abroad compared to an average of 18% for other Western countries… 

“Will there be a crash? Possibly. Will things get rocky? Almost certainly…” 

Trump’s Presidency Most Dangerous Period Since World War II? 

The Guardian wrote on September 4: 

“The world during Donald Trump’s second presidency has entered a period of danger with ‘certain similarities to the 30s’, according to Mitch McConnell, the veteran Republican former Senate leader. McConnell made the comments primarily in reference to tariffs and foreign affairs… he likened [Trump’s tariffs] to the isolationist policies of the US in the 1930s that historians say hastened a global depression that paved the path to conflict…. 

“‘Those who were totally anxious to stay out of all of what was going on in Europe were called “America First”. Sound familiar? So what do we have today? North Korea, China, Russia, Iran and Iran’s proxies. They’re very different kinds of countries, but they have one thing in common: They hate us.’” 

Will the FBI go after McConnell now, too? 

Trump Responds to Fines Against Google and Apple 

CNBC wrote on September 5: 

“President Donald Trump on Friday threatened to launch a trade investigation to ‘nullify’ what he said were discriminatory fines being levied by Europe against U.S. tech firms such as Google and Apple… He issued the threat hours after Google caught a nearly $3.5 billion penalty from the European Union in a major antitrust case centered on the search giant’s advertising technology business… ‘Very unfair, and the American Taxpayer will not stand for it!’… 

“Trump claimed that Google has previously paid $13 billion in ‘false claims and charges.’… He also called out the EU for squeezing billions of dollars from Apple in back taxes and fines for alleged anticompetitive practices… Apple ‘should get their money back!’ Trump wrote.” 

Europe is wondering whether Trump will impose further tariffs on them as a consequence. 

Ideology Instead of Law

Report 24 wrote on September 7:

“A judge appointed by Joe Biden blocked Donald Trump’s decree intended to end the madness of ‘X-genders’ on US passports. Instead of clarity and a return to biological facts, the government continues to cement the myth of arbitrarily interchangeable gender identities…

“After taking office, Donald Trump clearly and unequivocally declared that there are only two genders – male and female – and that this fundamental fact must be enshrined in all government documents, including passports. It was an attempt to reverse the madness of the Biden years, when anyone could decide, at their whim, whether they wanted an ‘M,’ an ‘F,’ or an ‘X’ on their passport. The Biden administration turned the passport into a political toy for gender-confused minorities, while the majority of citizens remained stunned when they watched as elementary biological facts were simply trampled underfoot because of a minority of zero point X percent.

“… Judge Julia Kobick, appointed by Biden, blocked Trump’s order, not for compelling legal reasons, but with the familiar blunt: alleged ‘disproportionate hardship’ for those ‘affected’ and the insinuation that Trump was acting out of ‘unconstitutional hatred’ toward gender-confused ‘transgender’ people…

“The judge’s perfidious argument was that the plaintiffs would allegedly be exposed to greater harassment and violence abroad without an ‘X’ on their passports. One inevitably wonders: Do these lawyers seriously believe that an ‘X’ in a passport would change anything abroad? In fact, it’s the exact opposite: With this special ideological treatment, one is immediately recognized as gender-confused abroad. This could lead to ‘surprises’ when traveling to Muslim countries.

“The US civil rights organization ACLU (American Civil Liberties) Union), one of the most influential lobby groups for gender and minority rights, celebrated the ruling as a victory. The left-wing front organization sees its agenda vindicated… Anyone wondering why the United States is so deeply divided will find this case a prime example.”

Indeed, a deeply divided ungodly society. 

The Murder of Charlie Kirk

 Breitbart wrote on September 11, 2025:

“31-year-old Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was killed in what President Donald Trump called an assassination at a debate event in Utah on Wednesday, and European sovereigntists, conservatives, and political leaders have responded with messages of support for the family he leaves behind, and disdain for political violence.

“Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who helped Kirk launch the British offshoot of Turning Point in 2019 wrote of the slaying that ‘This is a very dark day for… American democracy, Western democracy [and] free speech…  Farage warned that while the U.S. is bitterly divided, the United Kingdom is ‘not far behind’ and that there are ‘voices of intolerance’ who ‘wish to shut down free speech’ who are ‘very dangerous’.

“Former British Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson also spoke out, hailing ‘a shining new martyr to free speech’ and saying that Kirk had been killed because of his ‘courage. He wrote: ‘The murder of Charlie Kirk is a tragedy, and a sign of the utter desperation and cowardice of those who could not defeat him in argument…  He has been killed for saying things that used to be simple common sense.’..

“In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni… expressed her shock at an ‘atrocious murder’. She called the killing a ‘deep wound for democracy and for those who believe in freedom’…  

“Another friend to Trump’s America, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban… said: ‘Yesterday, we lost a true defender of faith and freedom. Our deepest condolences go to the Kirk family and to the American people. Charlie Kirk’s death is the result of the international hate campaign waged by the progressive-liberal left… We must stop the hate-mongering left!’…

“In Germany, Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) leader Alice Weidel lionised ‘a fighter for freedom of speech’ who was ‘shot by a fanatic who hates our way of life and discussion.’ In France, National Rally leader and possible next French President Jordan Bardella noted that the ‘dehumanizing rhetoric of the left and its intolerance fuels political violence. No one can ignore this poison that is eating away at our democratic societies.’”

JTA added on September 11:

“Kirk frequently characterized himself as a defender of the Jews and Israel… Among the first global leaders to send their prayers following reports that Kirk had been shot was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Kirk was a vocal backer of Israel, visiting the country multiple times and more recently staunchly supporting its war in Gaza…

“He told a crowd at a Jerusalem bar during his second trip: ‘I’m very pro-Israel, I’m an evangelical Christian, I’m a conservative, I’m a Trump supporter, I’m a Republican, and my whole life I have defended Israel’… he also said that Jewish people control ‘not just the colleges; it’s the nonprofits, it’s the movies, it’s Hollywood, it’s all of it.’”

Trump Challenges EU Over Russian Oil 

Fox News wrote on September 4: 

“President Donald Trump called on European leaders to stop ‘funding’ Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine and accused them of failing to pressure China… a White House official said, ‘President Trump emphasized that Europe must stop purchasing Russian oil that is funding the war – as Russia received €1.1 billion [nearly $1.3 billion] in fuel sales from the EU in one year.’ 

“‘The President also emphasized that European leaders must place economic pressure on China for funding Russia’s war efforts,’ the official added… The EU has drastically cut its imports of Russian oil following the invasion of Ukraine, though the president’s comments point out that it has not completely cut off its energy imports from Moscow.” 

Trump Is Right 

Bild Online wrote on September 7: 

“Even after more than three years of the Ukraine invasion and 18 EU sanctions packages, plenty of oil and gas from Russia is still flowing into the EU!… Fossil fuels from Russia were imported for a total of 21.9 billion euros between February 2024 and February 2025… ‘Of course Trump is right,’ says Russia expert Stefan Meister of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). 

“‘After China, India, and Turkey, Europe is number four in imports of oil and gas from Russia. At the same time, Europe buys gasoline from countries like India and Turkey, and thus indirectly also Russian oil,’ he explains… in July 2025, the five largest EU importers of Russian raw materials transferred a total of 1.2 billion euros to Russia…” 

Russia Strikes Ukraine Cabinet Offices 

The New York Post wrote on September 7: 

“Russia hit Ukraine’s capital with drone and missiles Sunday in the largest aerial attack on the country since the war began, killing at least two people and leaving smoke rising from the roof of a key government building.

Russia attacked Ukraine with 805 drones and decoys, officials said… 

“Sunday’s attack is the second mass Russian drone and missile attack to target Kyiv in the span of two weeks, as hopes for peace talks wane… The attack comes after European leaders pressed Russian leader Vladimir Putin to work to end the war after 26 of Ukraine’s allies pledged to deploy troops as a ‘reassurance force’ for the war-torn country once the fighting ends.” 

Russia Attacks Polish Airspace 

The Sun wrote on September 10:

“Nato has vowed to defend ‘every inch’ of allied land after Kremlin drones invaded Polish airspace overnight – forcing Warsaw to shoot them down and trigger Nato Article 4, one below the threshold of war… Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said 19 Russian drones sailed across the border amid an onslaught against western Ukraine, taking his country to the ‘closest to conflict since WW2’. He said four were shot down by Nato fighter jets – understood to be from Poland, Italy, the Netherlands the US – and officials later said seven had been found on the ground.

“This is the first time since the outbreak of war that Nato has directly clashed with Russia… Kremlin spokespeople have denied there is any evidence the drones were Russian, and even outrageously implied they had been launched by Kyiv….

“Nato chief Mark Rutte said… ‘Allies are resolved to defend every inch of allied territory.’ Rutte wouldn’t confirm whether Vlad’s drones were being treated as deliberate – but branded the night’s events ‘absolutely reckless’ either way…

“Article 4, a clause in Nato’s founding treaty, brings all of the allies together when the security or territory of one is threatened. But it stops short of Article 5’s key promise that an attack on one is an attack on all that demands [or better: “might demand”] a military response.”

Article 4 is actually nothing more than a debate exercise between NATO members. 

The War Department 

USA Today wrote on September 5: 

“President Donald Trump on Sept. 5 ordered his administration to rename the Department of Defense the ‘Department of War,’ bringing back a Cabinet name abandoned in 1947 to match what White House officials call a new ‘warrior ethos’ it is instilling in the armed forces… The move empowers Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to use titles such as ‘Department of War,’ ‘Secretary of War’ and ‘Deputy Secretary of War’ in official government correspondence and communications without formally changing the department’s name, which would require action from Congress. ‘We won the First World War. We won the Second World War. We won everything before that and in between,’ Trump said before signing the order in the Oval Office. 

“‘And then we decided to go woke and we changed the name to the Department of Defense. So we’re going Department of War.’… ‘It’s not just about renaming. It’s about restoring,’ Hegseth said. ‘Words matter. It’s restoring, as you’ve guided us to, Mr. President, restoring the warrior ethos, restoring victory and clarity as an end state, restoring intentionality to the use of force’… Hegseth said he agreed with Trump that ‘we haven’t won a major war’ since ditching the name Department of War in 1947… ‘We’re going to raise up warriors,’ Hegseth said of the name change, ‘not just defenders.’”

Long before Mr. Trump and Mr. Hegseth, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong stated that America had not won a major war since World War II. It had nothing to do with the name of the Department, but with the fact that God had started to withdraw His blessings from the USA, due to its ongoing sinful conduct. The name change will not alter that. America will NOT win a major war again, as there is no indication that it will deeply repent of its sinful and God-defying ways and become obedient to the true God of the Bible. To create a “warrior nation” is only one of the many sins America is guilty of. In this regard, please view our new message,  “Why America is Going Down—Comments on News and Prophecy, September 6, 2025”. 

What a Waste of Money 

Politico wrote on September 5: 

“Pentagon officials grappled Friday with the Herculean task of fulfilling President Donald Trump’s executive order to remold the enormous, global agency into the Department of War. Many expressed frustration, anger and downright confusion at the effort, which could cost billions of dollars for a cosmetic change that would do little to tackle the military’s most pressing challenges — such as countering a more aggressive alliance of authoritarian nations… officials may need to change Defense Department seals on more than 700,000 facilities in 40 countries and all 50 states. This includes everything from letterhead for six military branches and dozens more agencies down to embossed napkins in chow halls, embroidered jackets for Senate-confirmed officials and the keychains and tchotchkes in the Pentagon store. 

“‘This is purely for domestic political audiences,’ said a former defense official. ‘Not only will this cost millions of dollars, it will have absolutely zero impact on Chinese or Russian calculations. Worse, it will be used by our enemies to portray the United States as warmongering and a threat to international stability.’… 

“A [small] War Department existed from U.S. independence until 1947, when the Truman administration split the Army and Air Force into separate military branches and joined them with the then-independent Navy to form a new agency. An act of Congress two years later coined it the Department of Defense…” 

According to the BBC, the renaming of the department marks the president’s 200th executive order signed since he took office. 

It Won’t Make America Stronger 

RUSI [Royal United Service Institute, founded in 1831 by the Duke of Wellington] wrote on September 5:

“With the stroke of a pen, President Trump has ordered the Pentagon to be renamed the Department of War. It is a dramatic gesture, but one that leaves the US looking smaller, not stronger. He defended the change by noting America ‘won World War I and World War II’ under the old name and insisting that ‘we want offense too.’ But that outlook is precisely what alarms allies and emboldens adversaries: it signals that Washington defines itself by fighting wars, not by preventing them… 

“Nor is the change likely to endure; Congress enshrined the Department of Defense in law in 1949, and an executive order cannot erase that statute. The Department of War belongs to the past. Congress created the Department of Defense in 1949 for good reason: to unify the services, deter conflict, and reassure allies of America’s defensive purpose. An executive order cannot erase that history or substitute theatre for strategy… Lawmakers should move quickly to reassert the statute and restore the Department of Defense: a name that reflects America’s enduring role as a defender…” 

Whatever and whoever will cause this, we know that ultimately, Europe will launch a successful nuclear war against the USA [and the UK]. 

Bad Job Report for August 

The Independent wrote on September 5: 

“The U.S. economy added 22,000 jobs in August — worse than financial experts had expected — according to the first government report since President Donald Trump fired the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner  Erika McEntarfer. The August Jobs Report, published Friday, revealed that the employment market continued to cool in the same month that Trump’s global tariffs took effect… The jobs data also revealed that unemployment increased to 4.3 percent, the highest level since 2021… 

“Figures also showed the economy lost jobs in June for the first time since December 2020, when the jobs market was in turmoil during the Covid-19 pandemic. Revisions showed that payrolls declined by 13,000 jobs in June… 

“Economist Daniel Zhao warned the U.S. is ‘heading into turbulence without the soft landing achieved.’” 

ICE Sabotages Construction in Georgia 

The Guardian wrote on September 5: 

“Hundreds of workers at a factory being built in Georgia to make car batteries for Hyundai and Kia electric vehicles were detained in a huge raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement… on Thursday that stopped construction. The facility is part of what would be the biggest industrial investment in the state’s history and had been hailed as a huge boost for the economy by Georgia’s Republican governor, Brian Kemp…. 

“About 475 workers were arrested… the largest single-site enforcement operation in the history of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS)… However, the Korea Economic Daily earlier had reported about 560 workers at the Hyundai facility and LG Energy Solution (LGES), had been detained… About 300 are South Korean nationals… Hyundai Motor is a South Korean automotive company but has many international plants. 

“The raid on Thursday has dealt a setback to the company’s substantial project in Georgia and was a dramatic iteration of the Trump administration’s harsh crackdown on immigrants in the US. It also showed the disruptive impact that Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda is having on businesses, even as the White House tries to spur more inflows from foreign investors.. 

“The arrests could exacerbate tensions between Washington and Seoul, a key ally and investor in the US. The countries have been at odds over the details of a trade deal that includes $350bn of investments. At a summit last month, South Korea pledged $150bn in US investments – including $26bn from Hyundai Motor…” 

This might not encourage foreign countries to invest heavily in and move their operations to the USA. 

Supreme Court Collaborates With Trump

Rolling Stone wrote on September 8: 

“On Monday, the Supreme Court issued perhaps its most profoundly un-American ruling yet, allowing Trump’s masked immigration thugs to indiscriminately stop people on the streets because they are speaking Spanish or working as day laborers in the construction industry… 

“Kavanaugh did kindly explain his vote regarding the administration’s stop, frisk, and deport strategy. He wrote in a concurring opinion… ‘Importantly, reasonable suspicion means only that immigration officers may briefly stop the individual and inquire about immigration status… If the person is a U.S. citizen or otherwise lawfully in the United States, that individual will be free to go after the brief encounter.’” 

Many reported cases have shown that Kavanaugh’s description is simply not true. 

Tensions Between USA and Venezuela Escalate 

Express wrote on September 5:

“Two Venezuelan fighter jets have flown over a US Navy ship in a ‘show of force’ as tensions between the two neighboring countries escalate to terrifying new levels…  This comes after President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the U.S. has carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug-carrying vessel that departed from Venezuela and was operated by the Tren de Aragua gang…. Trump… repeated his claim — contradicted by a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment — that Tren de Aragua is operating under Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s control… 

“The US administration recently doubled a reward it is offering for Maduro’s arrest to $50 million. Maduro called the warships a ‘criminal and bloody threat’ earlier this week, deploying Venezuelan drones and warships to patrol the coastline…

“The president said in a social media posting that 11 people were killed in the rare U.S. military operation in the Americas, a dramatic escalation in the Republican administration’s effort to stem the flow of narcotics from Latin America. Trump also posted a short video clip of a small vessel appearing to explode in flames. ‘The strike occurred while the terrorists were at sea in International waters transporting illegal narcotics, heading to the United States,’ Trump said on Truth Social. ‘No U.S. Forces were harmed in this strike. Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America.’’ 

Breitbart added on September 5: 

“U.S. officials have reportedly ordered 10 F-35 fighter jets be deployed to Puerto Rico amid President Donald Trump’s fight against drug cartels… The sources… said the 10 fighter jets are being sent to conduct operations against designated narco-terrorist organizations operating in the southern Caribbean.” 

Murder in the Caribbean?

On September 5, the Ron Paul Institute republished the following article by the “Future of Freedom Foundation”: 

“President Trump is taking credit for the intentional military killings of eleven people in international waters near Venezuela… He ordered his military drug-war goons to blow a boat out of the water that was traveling in international waters near Venezuela, killing, Trump proudly claimed, eleven people in the process. 

“No stopping of the boat to search it. No arrests. No grand-jury indictments. No trials in federal district court. None of that. On Trump’s orders, his military drug-war goons dutifully, loyally, and obediently fired military projectiles at the boat knowing full well that they would be killing all of the boat’s occupants. 

“In my opinion, that’s just murder, pure and simple. Sure, it’s legalized murder. After all, there is no chance whatsoever that Trump’s Justice Department will seek criminal charges against Trump and his military killers. Even if it did, there is no possibility whatsoever that the US Supreme Court would permit the charges to stand, given the extreme deference that the Court has always paid to the US national-security establishment. The International Criminal Court has no jurisdiction over US officials and even if it did, there is no doubt that Trump and his military drug-war goons would ignore any criminal proceeding against them anyway. 

“Let’s keep in mind something important: Drug-war offenses are criminal offenses. Even though we all call it a ‘war on drugs,’ it is not a war in the true sense of the term. That is, we are not talking about a war like World War I or World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, or the US undeclared wars of aggression against Iraq and Afghanistan. We are talking about federal criminal offenses, not acts of war. 

“That means that under our system of constitutional government, people are presumed to be innocent of criminal offenses until proven guilty in a court of law. Under the US Constitution, which is supposed to control the actions of federal officials, US officials are prohibited from simply killing people who they suspect have committed a crime… the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution states, federal officials, including the president, the military, the CIA, DEA, and ICE, are expressly prohibited from depriving anyone of life without due process of law, which means, at a minimum, formal notice of criminal charges and a trial. 

“None of those eleven people who Trump and his military drug-war goons just killed was ever convicted of anything in a court of law. Nonetheless, Trump and his military drug-war goons knowingly, intentionally, and deliberately deprived them of life by shooting them dead, simply because Trump and his military drug-war goons were convinced that their victims were committing drug-related offenses. 

“Prior to Trump, US drug-war policy in international waters has been consistent with the principles of American criminal jurisprudence… If the US Coast Guard, for example, suspects a boat traveling in international waters of carrying illegal drugs, Coast Guard officials stop it, board it, and search it. If illegal drugs are found, the occupants of the boat are transported to the United States, indicted, and tried for drug-related offenses in US District Court…”

Trump had famously declared that every drug dealer should get the death penalty. To our knowledge, he never specified what kind of drug dealer he was referring to. 

Mobilizing Over 8 Million People? 

Newsweek wrote on September 5: 

“The clash between Washington and Caracas has escalated beyond rhetoric, with military maneuvers, sanctions, and criminal designations transforming into a broader contest for regional dominance. Trump has tied Maduro’s government to narcoterrorist organizations while expanding U.S. deployments, and Caracas has responded by massing citizens into its defense structures. At stake is whether the Caribbean becomes the stage for a direct confrontation between the United States and Venezuela, with ripple effects for Latin America and beyond… 

“Venezuela will deploy 15,751 popular defense bases and 5,336 communal militia units across the country. These forces fall under the National Bolivarian Militia, a civilian reserve created by the late Hugo Chavez to integrate ordinary citizens into the country’s defense system. Maduro said roughly 4.5 million citizens have already undergone training, with new enlistments through a digital platform expected to push the total beyond 8 million… 

“As Maduro mobilizes millions and Trump escalates military operations, the U.S.-Venezuela standoff is entering a dangerous new phase…” 

Confusion Galore

 CNN wrote on September 6: 

“President Donald Trump is weighing a multitude of options for carrying out military strikes against drug cartels operating in Venezuela, including potentially hitting targets inside the country as part of a broader strategy aimed at weakening leader Nicolas Maduro… Multiple sources told CNN Tuesday’s strike was just the beginning of a much larger effort to rid the region of narcotics trafficking and potentially dislodge Maduro from power… 

“Earlier this year, Trump authorized the military to carry out lethal operations against cartels his administration designated as terrorist groups, according to a source familiar with the matter, a move in which the president appeared to claim the power to treat suspected smugglers not as criminals, but enemy combatants. Asked Tuesday if the US would consider strikes on Venezuelan soil against the Maduro regime, Secretary of State Marco Rubio didn’t count out the possibility…. 

“Though Rubio initially said that the alleged Venezuela drug boat was likely bound for Trinidad or another Caribbean country, a day later, after Trump said it had been headed for the US, Rubio amended his remark and said the boat was ‘eventually’ headed to the US… 

“Despite all this, behind the scenes the US continues to coordinate with Venezuelan officials on deportation flights. The Trump administration also recently re-issued a license for US energy giant Chevron to resume oil operations in Venezuela, home to the largest proven oil reserves in the world…” 

Trump Muddies the Water on Vaccines 

clickorlando.com wrote on September 5: 

“President Donald Trump said vaccines that work ‘should be used,’ when asked to weigh in on a plan by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to end vaccine mandates in the state Friday. ‘You have some vaccines that are so amazing, the polio vaccine I happen to think is amazing,’ Trump said. ‘A lot of people think that COVID is amazing. I think you have to be very careful when you say that some people don’t have to be vaccinated. It’s a very, you know, it’s a very tough position,’ Trump added. 

“Earlier this week, DeSantis and Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo announced a plan to end all vaccine mandates in the state. Ladapo likened the vaccine mandates to slavery. ‘Every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery,’ Ladapo said during his announcement. ‘Who am I as a government or anyone else to tell you what you should put in your body? Your body is a gift from God. What you put into your body is between your relationship with you and your God.’

“Florida has several vaccine requirements in certain situations, chief among them mandates for school children. Ladapo and the Florida Department of Health may be able to lift the mandates for vaccines like chickenpox and hepatitis B, but mandates for polio, diphtheria, measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis (aka whooping cough), and tetanus vaccines would require repealing a decades-old Florida law, which only the state legislature can do. 

“‘Look, you have vaccines that work,’ Trump said Friday. ‘They just pure and simple work. They’re not controversial at all, and I think those vaccines should be used; otherwise, some people are going to catch it, and they endanger other people, and when you don’t have controversy at all, I think people should take it.’” 

We should not forget that Trump advocated highly controversial and, to a large extent ineffective or even dangerous vaccinations against Covid. 

Trump’s Tariffs 

Deutsche Welle wrote on September 6: 

“Postal traffic to the United States plunged over 80% after new tariffs announced by the Trump administration came into effect on August 29… 

“88 operators worldwide have fully or partially suspended the shipping of parcels to the US…” 

India and Russia Lost to China 

Reuters wrote on September 5: 

“U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said India and Russia seem to have been ‘lost’ to China after their leaders met with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, expressing annoyance at New Delhi and Moscow as Beijing pushes a new world order. 

“‘Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China…’”  

Germans Unhappy With Their Government

Deutsche Welle wrote on September 4: 

“The monthly Deutschlandtrend survey commissioned by German public broadcaster ARD found that 77% of those surveyed were dissatisfied with how the CDU/CSU Union and SPD get along. 

Supporters of the CDU/CSU and the SPD were equally dissatisfied, according to the survey… 

“Respondents also had little good to say about the government’s work so far. Some 75% of them indicated that they didn’t like what the government was doing… [Plans to raise] the retirement age to 70 was rejected by 84% of survey respondents… Germans are expected to have to work beyond the current retirement age of 67 and may see pension levels go down.. 

“The far-right… AfD was viewed as the most competent of all parties when it comes to immigration policy…” 

Merz on Putin 

Weltwoche wrote on September 4: 

“Russian President Vladimir Putin has reacted sharply to recent statements by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who called him ‘perhaps the most serious war criminal of our time’… 

“The Kremlin did not leave Merz’s choice of words unanswered. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the TASS news agency that, in light of these statements, Moscow would no longer consider any suggestions or opinions from Berlin: ‘Merz has made very bad statements to President Putin.'” 

Published comments on this article, almost all of them directed against Merz, were notable: 

“A power-hungry Merz is dragging us into war with Russia. There won’t be a third time. Russia will destroy us forever for it.” 

“There is ‘no room for leniency’ in dealing with war criminals,’ to hear this from a CDU chancellor, of all people, whose party in the old Federal Republic of Germany was unsurpassed in its leniency toward Nazi war criminals, as well as in their whitewashing and integration into the German democracy…” 

“With this Merz, there will be no more peace with Russia.” 

“Probably the stupidest government in Germany, with a chancellor no one trusts anymore.” 

A Woke Bundeswehr? 

Junge Freiheit wrote on September 4: 

“…the Bundeswehr is not about a professionally required exchange. Instead, the troops are inviting people to the conference ‘Woke and Defensive. Queer Realities of Life in the Bundeswehr.’ The ‘scientific objective of the research project’ is… ‘the experience-based exchange to strengthen diversity and queerness in the Bundeswehr…’ 

“For this purpose, the Bundeswehr University… has scheduled panels with subsequent discussions over two days. The rainbow-framed brochure is supported by the ‘Evangelical Chaplaincy in the Bundeswehr’ and the ‘Center for Gender & Diversity’… 

“According to the brochure description, the troops’ true enemy is our closest military ally: US President Donald Trump. Shortly after taking office, he abandoned the ‘Diversity-Equity-Inclusion’ policy (diversity, equality, inclusion), which had also spread in the US Army. Trump is using anti-diversity strategies ‘to massively restrict the rights of transgender people’… A presentation from the first panel is directly titled ‘Gender in Law – More Than Just Male or Female’… 

“Are there more diverse people who will stand up for Germany, the colors black, red, and gold, and not for the rainbow? Skepticism is raised by the Bundeswehr’s own advertising posters, which sometimes omit the word ‘Germany’ – despite the fact that recruits take their oath of allegiance to it. Now the Bundeswehr is advertising with a slogan that is also being used by certain political circles: ‘How far will you go for our democracy?’” 

Jens Spahn Lags Far Behind 

Der Stern wrote on August 5: 

“The highest trust ratings among their own supporters in the current ranking are Boris Pistorius (SPD, 82 points), Markus Söder (CSU, 80 points), as well as Heidi Reichinnek (Left Party) and Alice Weidel (AfD) (78 points each). Jens Spahn (CDU) has by far the lowest trust rating among his own party’s supporters: He receives only 37 points from CDU supporters. 

In the overall ranking, Pistorius is by far the best: Söder is in 6th place, closely followed by Merz in 7th place, closely followed by Klingbeil (SPD) in 8th place, Reichinnek in 10th place; Spahn is far behind in 17th place, and Weidel is in 19th place. 

The Insanity of COVID Politics

Report 24 wrote on September 8:

“Jens Spahn, the former Minister of Health, recently admitted what has long been clear to many. He would be the first to face the AfD’s ‘political judiciary’ if it were to take power… If the judiciary were truly independent, Spahn would have had to face it already. The same applies to Angela Merkel, Olaf Scholz, Karl Lauterbach, and Christian Drosten. Instead, doctors who issued mask certificates or simulated vaccinations are being prosecuted for giving people their lives back… That’s why people are in prison today whose only offense was resisting the measures… The judiciary is hunting those who helped the people, while the real perpetrators walk free.”

“Because the vaccination is anything but safe. Dozens of studies demonstrate serious side effects. Thrombosis, myocarditis, strokes – such adverse reactions quickly appeared after the start of the vaccination campaigns. The FDA even officially warned of myocarditis in young men after mRNA vaccinations. By now, everyone probably knows someone who has been harmed by the forced injection. Turbo cancer, sudden death, permanent damage. Yet the injection was sold as harmless.

“The lockdowns were equally destructive. The disruption of production fueled inflation. Psychologically, the number of depressions, anxiety, and suicides rose explosively. Families were destroyed by propaganda, children lost years of their development. In terms of health, people died from untreated illnesses because they didn’t dare go to the doctor. The worst part is the knowledge of those in power. They knew the risks in advance. Corona was not a lethal virus. Manufacturers like Pfizer and Moderna promised neither efficacy nor safety… The contracts protect them from lawsuits, even in cases of serious damage, even in the death of vaccine victims. The politicians protected them. They took away the people’s freedom, forced them into isolation, and ruined livelihoods. For absolute control, total power. For billions that flowed to pharmaceutical companies. 

“Spahn was right in the middle of it with his mask deals. He organized the vaccination campaign, ignoring all warnings. Merkel ordered the lockdowns. Scholz prolonged the catastrophe. Lauterbach preached panic. Drosten provided the ‘Science’ that suited the government’s wishes. If the judiciary were independent, there would be charges, trials, and a genuine investigation. Instead, it protects the perpetrators…

“But the pressure is growing. On August 27, the US withdrew emergency approval for mRNA gene injections, and the injection is now only being considered for very old or sick people. As it should have been from the beginning – including here. People don’t forget. The evidence is mounting. The stories of those affected are getting louder. Spahn’s words seem like a confession. They reveal the fear of the powerful. It may take a long time, but everyone will be held accountable for their crimes. The politicians, the pharmaceutical mafia, the henchmen in the media. Nothing will be forgotten, nothing will be forgiven. Not even in Austria.”

Still,  voices are being heard again, advocating the insanity of vaccinations and the useless wearing of masks. 

Becoming a Saint… 

USA Today wrote on September 5: 

“Pope Leo will canonize Blessed Carlo Acutis on Sunday, Sept. 7, the first such ceremony of his tenure and the first Catholic saint of the millennial generation… Carlo, a British-born Italian who died from leukemia in 2006 at age 15, had been set to be canonized April 27 during the Jubilee of Adolescents. The ceremony was postponed after the death of Pope Francis on April 21. Carlo, sometimes referred to as ‘God’s influencer,’ learned several computer coding languages before his death and built websites to spread his faith. Sainthood indicates that the church believes the person is in heaven with God. 

“Sainthood causes are examined by a Vatican department that must confirm that the person lived a holy life. It usually also involves the verification of two miracles [AFTER the person’s death] attributed to the future saint’s intercession with God in heaven. 

“In 2020, the church recognized his first miracle, involving a 4-year-old Brazilian boy who was determined to be healed from a serious pancreatic birth defect. After the boy’s mother prayed to Carlo in 2013, her son experienced a sudden and complete recovery. 

“In May 2024, a second miracle was announced, this time involving a woman from Costa Rica. In 2022, she prayed at Carlo’s tomb in Assisi, Italy, after her daughter suffered severe head trauma from a bicycle accident. Doctors had informed the mother that her daughter was unlikely to survive. In her pilgrimage to Carlo’s tomb, the mother left a note. On the same day, her daughter began to breathe spontaneously. The next day, she started to move and regained some of her speech. Ten days later, a CAT scan showed her brain hemorrhage had disappeared. 

“Carlo’s beatification took place in October 2020, when Pope Francis declared the teen had attained the blessedness of heaven, and he was given the title of ‘Blessed.’” 

None of that is biblical. Only Jesus Christ went to heaven after His resurrection—nobody else. Any “miracle” cannot be attributed to Carlo Acutis because he is dead and in his grave, without any consciousness, awaiting his resurrection from the dead. IF those “miracles” did in fact occur, they did not show any DIVINE intervention because people prayed to Carlo.   

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.

First of all, let us look at this phrase. From Wikipedia we can glean this interesting information: “‘In God We Trust’ is the official motto of the United States of America, Nicaragua, and of the U.S. state of Florida. It was adopted as the United States’ motto in 1956 as a replacement or alternative to the unofficial motto of E pluribus unum, which was adopted when the Great Seal of the United States was created and adopted in 1782. ‘In God We Trust’ first appeared on the two-cent piece in 1864 and has appeared on paper currency since 1957.”

It is an interesting question to ask if this would be permitted today.   And even if it were, would it be embraced with the same deep intended meaning? You just have to wonder as the USA, as well as many other nations around the world, have become much more secular and permissive societies. 

As ever, there are those who, not having any religious affiliation or affinity, object to the use of this phrase.   Wikipedia continues:

“Some groups and people have expressed objections to its use, contending that its religious reference violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. These groups believe the phrase should be removed from currency and public property.  In lawsuits, this argument has so far not overcome the interpretational doctrine of accommodationism, which allows government to endorse religious establishments as long as they are all treated equally. According to a 2003 joint poll by USA Today, CNN, and Gallup, 90% of Americans support the inscription ‘In God We Trust’ on U.S. coins.”

In an article by Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell on May 7, 2013, she wrote: “Following the April 29 (2013) opening of their documentary The Unbelievers at Toronto’s Hot Docs Film Festival, outspoken atheists Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss discussed the merits of their approaches to ‘ridding the world of religion.’ In a recent interview with Steve Paikin, they made it clear that, despite their sometimes different personas, they have the same agenda—getting people to get rid of their belief in God. Yet they both say that Christians should not feel ‘threatened’ by their efforts to expunge religion from human history.”  

That is the society that we live in today, where trust in God is belittled, undermined and scoffed at, and this background should give us the extra urgency and energy to trust in God for all our needs.

And so, back to the question. This phrase is not found verbatim in the Word of God but there are many verses that give the same meaning and understanding. 

In Psalm 91:2 we read: “I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’”

There are many other verses that say much the same thing, for example:

Psalm 18:2: “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

Nahum 1:7: “The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him.”

Psalm 40:3: “He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.”

Psalm 73:28: “But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the LORD GOD, That I may declare all Your works.”

Proverbs 29:25: “The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.”

These are but a few verses that show us where our trust should be.

As we know, times have changed drastically over the last several decades. There was a time when most people had a belief in God but, in more recent times, as the world has become more and more secular, that belief and acceptance have dwindled, been questioned, dismissed and even ridiculed by many as being outdated and unnecessary.   There are those who wonder why the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord will be necessary, and even as severe as they will surely be but, even a cursory review of how society today thinks and behaves should give more than a clue as to why “there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21).   It will be the only way of getting man’s full attention.

Dismissing trust in God, along with many other sins, will lead to much trouble and suffering for mankind.

Unfortunately, as so often happens, this phrase has been misappropriated by those who seem to know no better.   For example, an increasing trend with football (soccer) supporters in the UK can be seen when showing banners at matches with God’s Name being replaced by the manager or a star player.   Instead of “In God We Trust” it becomes “In (name of person) We Trust”.   In a way, that is hardly surprising, as football in the UK (and in many other countries) has become a religion.   This phrase with a human being’s name inserted, can also be heard in conversation and it is indeed a godless and unwelcome trend where a human being is seen as more important than God.   Regrettably, that means nothing to those who are so involved but they will see, one day, how ridiculous such assertions were.

We are told not to trust in man.   In Psalm 118:8-9 we read: “It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man.  It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in princes.”

Also, Psalm 146:3: “Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.”

And in Jeremiah 17:5: “Thus says the LORD: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the LORD.’”

It is quite clear that trust is not to be in mortal man but in the great Creator and Eternal God.  Those in the true Church of God today, do trust God.   In 2 Samuel 22:2-3, David, when giving praise for God’s deliverance said:

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence.”

A stronghold is a “fortified place, a place of security or survival,” and that is what God should be to us.   In God we trust, not in any man, and while this exact phrase cannot be found verbatim in the Word of God, the principle is seen throughout the Bible.

Let us, as the people of God, never forget where our trust should be and make our motto “In God We Trust.”

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

compiled by Dave Harris

A Tech Team Meeting was conducted on September 7, 2025. Hosted by Eric Rank, several topics were covered, including ad results for our booklet offerings and website adjustments along with more FOT planning.

“Gott IST… unsere Bestimmung!” the German translation of our booklet, “God Is… Our Destiny,” has been sent to graphic designer Shelly Bruno in preparation for printing.

“The Feast of Trumpets” is the latest video in our Bible Story Series on YouTube.

“Was das “Christentum“ über Christus nicht weiß!” is the title of this Sabbath’s second split sermon in Germany, presented by Norbert Link. Title in English, “ “What ‘Christianity’ Does Not Know About Christ!”

“Nur für Dich,” last Sabbath’s first German split sermon presented by Johann Schell, is now posted. Title in English: “Only for You.”

“Den Herrn allezeit vor Augen – Die Lösung für Angst und Furcht,” last Sabbath’s second German split sermon by Daniel Blasinger, is now posted. Title in English: “Keeping the Lord Always in Mind – The Solution to Anxiety and Fear.”

“Why America is Going Down—Comments on News and Prophecy, September 6, 2025,” last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

This program gives many examples of the ongoing downfall of the USA and its deteriorating relationship with friends and allies, as well as frightening conduct by its enemies, notwithstanding wishful thinking and statements to the contrary. There is a reason for that, and God’s Church has a duty to proclaim this reason. This includes the fact that the USA will NOT win a major war anymore, as Herbert W. Armstrong so famously proclaimed.

“God’s Warning to True and False Christians,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Norbert Link, is now posted. Here is the summary:

Are you a true Christian, and if not, how can you become one? On the other hand, what must true Christians guard against to ensure they remain true Christians? The answers to these questions are of utmost importance and will determine your ultimate salvation.

2025 FALL HOLY DAYS:

September 23   Feast of Trumpets

October 2           Day of Atonement

October 7-13     Feast of Tabernacles

October 14         Last Great Day