Truthspresso

Something unexpected and scary happened to us this weekend!

It's a good time for us all to remember that God is good and in control.

He directs our steps!

Scriptures Referenced:

Proverbs 16:9

Proverbs 16:1

Proverbs 19:21

Proverbs 20:24

Psalm 37:23

Jeremiah 10:23

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April 1, 2024 was no April Fool's Day for many fast food workers in California. When a new law went into effect promising a $20 minimum wage for fast workers, many found themselves worse off. Slashed hours or even laid off, young people felt betrayed by pipe dream politics.

The law included a controversial carve out that benefits some food chains at the expense of others. And laws like California's updated FAST Recovery Act devastate the people they proport to help.

Is a coercive minimum wage even a Biblical concept? Especially one far above what employers and young employees would naturally agree on? The Bible strongly supports covenants and keeping one's promises. Jesus' parable of the vineyard workers explains that wage agreements are valid, and that graciously paying more is the owner's discretion. Political middlemen need not apply.

Sources Referenced:

Nancy Luna, "Fast-food workers will make $20 an hour in California. Here's why Panera Bread was exempted from the new law," Business Insider, September 29, 2023.

Sara Chernikoff, "California Pizza Huts lay off all delivery drivers ahead of minimum wage increase," USA Today, Updated December 28, 2023.

Grace Dean, "Fast-food restaurants in California are laying off workers to prepare for the $20 minimum wage hike," Business Insider, March 27, 2024.

Anna Schier, "Prices Spike At In-N-Out, Burger King And More With $20 Minimum Wage," Patch, April 8, 2024.

Sara Chernikoff, "McDonald's, Chipotle to raise prices in California as minimum wage increases for workers," USA Today, Updated November 3, 2023.

California Assembly Bill No. 1228

"Governor Newsom Signs Legislation Boosting Wages & Supporting Workers," California Governor Gavin Newsom, September 28, 2023, news video, 38:38 to 39:05.

"Gavin Newsom addresses Panera Bread controversy," NBC4, March 2, 2024, news video, 1:35 to 2:06.

Scriptures Referenced:

Amos 3:3

Leviticus 25:14

Matthew 20:1-15

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to serve the community. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

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In an interview on April 1, Richard Dawkins gave an "Easter message" in an interview.

Expressing his concern about the spread of Islam in the UK, Dawkins called himself a "cultural Christian." He likes to live in a "Christian culture" but he is "not a believer" and doesn't "believe a word of the Christian faith."

While some claim this is a "change" from Dawkins' past, I remain skeptical.

Let's look at some verses in the Bible to see if claiming to be a "cultural Christian" makes one a "Christian" in any meaningful way.

Sources Referenced:

Rachel Johnson, "Richard Dawkins: I'm a Cultural Christian," LBC, April 1, 2024, educational video, 0:00 to 2:51, https://youtu.be/2UElC_YZ0Eo.

Scriptures Referenced:

Acts 10:34-35

James 2:9

Hebrews 11:1-3,6

Acts 4:18-20

Luke 6:46

Matthew 15:8-9

Romans 8:9

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to serve the community. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

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Christ is King!

This statement has become controversial in the last week. Instead of arguing over the politics of it, I talk about the doctrines of Jesus Christ that make Him king:

1. Christ is King because of the Trinity
2. Christ is King because of the Incarnation (which depends on the Trinity)
3. Christ is King because of substitutionary atonement (which depends on the incarnation)
4. Christ is King because of the resurrection (which depends on substitutionary atonement)

Scriptures Referenced:

Psalm 110:1

Matthew 28:18-19

1 Corinthians 12:3-11

Isaiah 45:22-23

Philippians 2:5-11

Isaiah 53:10-12

Hebrews 2:14-18

Acts 2:30-36

1 Peter 3:18-22

1 Corinthians 15:20-22

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to serve the community. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

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I talk about how some current news items reflect an unbiblical crusade against the intuitions of human nature.

We all know the Ten Commandments make perfect sense for both personal virtue and a flourishing society. However, we also recognize how the Fall of man tempts us to yield to base desires.

The philosophies of world that we see all around us in the news try to subject the human nature that reflects the image of God to the whims of base desires. They try make people fight over who gets to satisfy their own base desires at the expense of others.

We should not lose heart as we know our labor is not in vain, and Jesus Christ as the law giver will return and set things straight.

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to serve the community. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

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Chelsea and I recall a few Sunday School stories from the Bible that demonstrate a running theme: they all required courage to trust God with results.

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to serve the community. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

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I go "solo" in this episode, but I have a virtual companion for some of the episode.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) engines may offer us untold potential for productivity. However, if used for political control of news and research, they could cause chilling effects.

First, we look at how Google Gemini's "diversity" pictures caused backlash and blunted the success of its debut. Meta's AI also showed similar problems.

Then, I ask Google Gemini some questions about its past, some philosophy, and some theology. What can AI tell us about the Christian Podcast Community and the Truthspresso podcast?

Finally, I test Gemini's creativity to write some poems about Truthspresso.

A sonnet about Truthspresso:

A shot of faith, a podcast sharp and bold,

Truthspresso wakes the mind with themes untold.

From lofty questions of the heavens above

To earthly matters, economics, and love,

It stirs the soul, a brew both strong and keen,

A Christian lens on life's perplexing scene.

With Mynyk's voice, perhaps, to guide the way,

It probes the depths on this truth-seeking day.

So put on hold the music and the news,

This mental coffee table's set for you.

Let Truthspresso ignite a sacred spark,

And fill your cup with knowledge from the dark.

A podcast brew, both faithful and sincere,

To warm the heart and chase away all fear.

A limerick about Truthspresso:

A Christian named Dan, Truthspresso's the man,

On faith, life, and politics he spins a yarn.

He dives deep in thought,

With knowledge he's fraught,

A shot of espresso to brighten your morn.

A haiku about Truthspresso:

Truth in coffee cup,

Mynyk's voice wakes the faithful mind,

Faithful knowledge blooms.

Sources Cited:

Lucas Mearian, "Google can’t guarantee its Gemini genAI tool won’t be biased," ComputerWorld, February 29, 2024.

Megan Morrone, "Meta AI creates ahistorical images, like Google Gemini," Axios, March 1, 2024.

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to serve the community. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

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On February 20, 2024, The Alabama Supreme Court in the case James LePage, et al. v. The Center for Reproductive Medicine and Mobile Infirmary Association ruled in favor of the plaintiffs who suffered a loss of their frozen offspring as a result of an accident at a fertility clinic.

The issue now is what happens to in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the state of Alabama? The state House and Senate both passed emergency bills to protect current IVF treatments while not challenging the ruling.

What is the most consistent pro-life position on this issue?

Is it possible to practice a form of IVF that attempts to be 100% pro-life?

Chelsea and I discuss important sections of the ruling, a concurring opinion, and the dissenting option, and ask and answer questions about IVF.

Sources Cited:

AL Code § 6-5-391 (2022)

Official ruling in James LePage, et al. v. The Center for Reproductive Medicine and Mobile Infirmary Association

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to serve the community. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

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Disclaimer: we talk about some gruesome details of abortion procedures and results.

In March of 2022 the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising group obtained five bodies of babies possibly birth-sized babies in a box of 115 aborted bodies destined for processing as "medical waste."

For two years D.C. has claimed to investigate if the "D.C. five" were killed illegally (as opposed to killed legally).

As the Biden administration has attempted to dispose these bodies, pro-life groups and members of Congress are fighting to keep the baby bodies available and force a real investigation.

Is Washington, D.C. trying to cover up full-blown infanticide?

Well, we believe all abortion results in "infanticide," but how far does this culture of death go in the sacred halls of the greatest nation on earth?

Sources Cited:

18 U.S. Code § 1531 - Partial-birth abortions prohibited

"Inhuman: Undercover in America's Late-Term Abortion Industry - Washington, D.C." [YouTube video]

Mary Margaret Olohan, "1 Year Later: DC Mayor Stonewalls Probe Into Aborted Babies’ Bodies," The Daily Signal, March 23, 2023.

Breccan F. Thies, "Thirty-five anti-abortion groups ask Congress to stop DC medical examiner from destroying ‘potential evidence of infanticide’," Washington Examiner, February 7, 2024.

Steven Ertelt, "Pro-Life Attorneys Block DC From Destroying Full-Term Aborted Babies Killed in Potentially Illegal Abortions," Life News, February 9, 2024.

Mary Margaret Olohan, "EXCLUSIVE: DC Will Pay If Authorities Dispose of Aborted Baby Remains, Cruz Warns," The Daily Signal, February 8, 2024.

Scriptures Referenced:

John 8:32

Proverbs 10:11

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to serve the community. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

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Once again a multimillion-dollar campaign called "He Gets Us" aired an ad during the Super Bowl.

The ad presented a slide show of people often at political odds washing one another's feet. Well, usually it was the "conservative" washing the feet of the "liberal."

It ended with "Jesus didn't preach hate. He washed feet."

What does the Bible saying about foot washing?

What does the "He Gets Us" campaign get right in the ad and its website, and what may it get wrong?

Could a campaign focused on disarming social issues lure people into becoming disciples of Jesus?

Sources Cited:

He Gets Us

"Loving your neighbor is nearly impossible. How can we do it?"

"About Us"

"How did Jesus step over barriers of race, gender, and stigma on the side of the road?"

"He Gets Us has an agenda."

Scriptures Referenced:

John 13:13-18

Matthew 16:13-17

Mark 14:61-64

Joh 4:16-18,24,28-30

Mark 2:15-17

Matthew 16:24-25

John 8:30-32

Joh 17:15-23

Luke 12:51-53

Mark 8:38

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to serve the community. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

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