After losing his primary race, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) used his concession speech on Tuesday night to tout his support from Muslims in San Francisco and Dearborn, Michigan. Just weeks ago, Bowman accused his Democratic rival, George Latimer, of race-baiting for suggesting the lawmaker’s “constituency” was from those areas that have large Arab-American communities. “You don’t understand what the Muslim community specifically did in this race. The Muslim community from Yonkers to San Francisco to Dearborn, Michigan,” Bowman said. And ⬇️ During primary, Bowman accused Latimer of Islamophobia for saying his constituents are from Dearborn, MI. Tonight, Bowman: “You don’t understand what the Muslim community specifically did in this race. The Muslim community from Yonkers to San Francisco to Dearborn, MI.” pic.twitter.com/p5FBOPUnKE — Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) June 26, 2024 During a debate earlier this month, Latimer cast Bowman as someone who did not prioritize the interests of his district in the Bronx and Westchester County with a diverse population. “When you get as much money as you get from outside the district, your constituency is Dearborn, Michigan. Your constituency is San Francisco, California,” Latimer said. Bowman, a member of the leftist “Squad” who has been a vocal critic of Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, called the comment an “Islamophobic dogwhistle” in a post to social media. This Islamophobic dogwhistle shows the difference between my opponent and me. I love our Muslim and Arab neighbors in NY16 just like I love our Jewish, white and Black neighbors here and across the country. I’m fighting for all of us. https://t.co/JUPpE6GzIL — Rep. Jamaal Bowman Ed.D. (@JamaalBowmanNY) June 11, 2024 “I love our Muslim and Arab neighbors in NY16 just like I love our Jewish, white and Black neighbors here and across the country,” he added. “I’m fighting for all of us.” CNN host Abby Phillip asked Latimer to address his remark during a CNN interview after his campaign, backed by pro-Israel groups, was projected to win in New York’s 16th Congressional District. “It’s not a dogwhistle of anything. He had a major fundraiser in California. He raised more money in California in the last report than he made from New York,” Latimer said. He also noted that Bowman and fellow Israel critic Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), whose district includes Dearborn, formed a joint fundraising committee earlier this year. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “It’s a geographic reference, not a demographic reference,” Latimer said. Latimer added later that “it is clear that he raised money more in proportion outside the district from a nationwide network of donors that included people from those locations and others.” Bowman’s decision to give props to the Muslim communities in places such as San Francisco and Dearborn during his concession speech also drew some backlash on social media. “He hates that Jews in his own district live in tight-knit communities but Muslim communities in other parts of the country are praiseworthy,” said National Review Online Editor Phillip Klein.

There’s never a dull moment during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, but that was especially true during her recent shows in London. In fact, from the very first day, there were lots of special guests in attendance. Much to the delight of fans, both of the Kelce brothers showed up to support the superstar. As luck would have it, so were members of the Royal Family — Prince William and his kids, Charlotte and George. Neither Travis or Jason knew what to expect when meeting royalty, but they were happy to share details in the latest episode of their podcast, New Heights. While Charlotte found herself starstruck to meet Taylor Swift, both Travis and Jason had a similar reaction to the Princess. YouTube To be fair, it’s clear they enjoyed meeting both William and George, too. That said, the two of them can’t help but gush over how adorable Charlotte was that day. In fact, Travis notes that “she was a superstar.” Travis Kelce Talks About Meeting Princess Charlotte at a Taylor Swift Concert in London Jason, who has girls of his own, also points out that Charlotte “had a fire to her,” adding that, “She was asking questions.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) “I love it when parents ask their kids to be present, be vocal…” Travis says in reply. He later added, “They were an absolute delight to meet. Wasn’t sure if I was supposed to, like, bow to them, curtsy, just be an American idiot and shake their hand.” Turns out, because this wasn’t a royal event, there was no need to curtsy or anything like that. In fact, both Travis and Jason were surprised by how down to earth they all were. In fact, Travis can be seen in a selfie with the family — as taken and shared by Swift herself on social media. All in all, it was a great week to be in London! You can find the source of this story’s featured image here! The post Travis Kelce Gushes Over 9-Yr-Old Princess Charlotte’s Visit To Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour appeared first on InspireMore.

Squirrels are industrious builders regarding nests, or dreys, for their babies. They will use any material but often build with small sticks and leaves. The sticks are loosely woven together to form the bottom and then sides of the enclosed structure. Squirrels will return to a previous nest and beef it up year after year in a favorite tree. While on a walk, Katie Rogalski noticed a squirrel nest in one of the trees in her neighborhood. Although seeing a nest wasn’t unusual, this squirrel nest included a curious object. Image from Facebook. Yes, that is the posterior end of a plastic toy horse built into the squirrel nest. No one knows why it is there, but the commenters have several speculations. One suggested that the squirrel wanted a horse head decoration inside the nest. The by-product of that suggestion was the other half of the horse in its current position. If your neighbor has an animal head on their den wall, sneak outside and see if they neglected to remove the other half. The picture angle shows that the nest is 12 to 15 feet up, which is quite a distance for the small animal to carry a toy roughly the same size as the squirrel. WOW! Image from Facebook. Perhaps this little squirrel is a fan of The Godfather and is sending a not-so-subtle message to an enemy. Or perhaps he has an unfriendly neighbor who is a horse’s … anyway, moving on. The comments are almost as hilarious as the image. One commenter who really understands mothers posted, “It’s probably a My Little pony themed drey…. Mama’s will do anything for their babies.” We hope the squirrel enjoys his custom nest with its odd object. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here and here. The post Woman Shares Strange Object She Saw Stuck In Squirrel Nest Online & Hilarity Ensues appeared first on InspireMore.

Artificial intelligence has become impressive. Large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT can now mimic human experts. It’s intimidating to think about a new world where computers sound as smart as a practiced hospital nurse or legal assistant. ChatGPT works by absorbing a vast amount of literature—more than any person could ever read. As these models improve their ability to parrot human writing, the LLMs will keep sounding smarter. AI agents could potentially learn something humans don’t yet know by running new scientific experiments. But even that would mean they’re only uncovering another corner of the universe God created and already knows intimately. While some have compared LLM breakthroughs to “building god,” or used descriptors like “god-like” to describe what AI can do, the distance between even the most advanced LLMs and God remains infinitely vast. AI can mimic human intelligence, subject to constraints (like electricity usage). However, even if AI tools became leading poets or groundbreaking scientists—mimicking the brilliance of human creativity—this wouldn’t put AI in the same class as God. Difference Between Human and Divine Intelligence The Bible’s ancient writers went out of their way to differentiate human intelligence from God’s knowledge. Scripture repeatedly emphasizes God’s omniscience, portraying him as the possessor of infinite knowledge and wisdom. Psalm 147:5 declares, “Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.” This limitless understanding is beyond human comprehension, as Isaiah 55:9 illustrates: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God’s intelligence transcends time and space, as Romans 11:33 exclaims: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” While humans possess finite intelligence—prone to error and limited by the confines of the physical world—God’s intelligence is characterized by perfection, infallibility, and an eternal perspective. Uses and Limits of AI Mark Zuckerberg recently said about AI, “There’s all this science fiction about creating intelligence where it starts to take on all these human-like behaviors. . . . The current incarnation of all this stuff feels like it’s going in a direction where intelligence can be pretty separated from consciousness, agency, and things like that, which I think just makes it a super valuable tool.” While humans possess finite intelligence, God’s intelligence is characterized by perfection, infallibility, and an eternal perspective. The type of work performed by AI can be useful to a human organization (even a church). I’m optimistic LLMs can be tools that help humanity solve challenges. The Bible says discovering new ideas is “the glory of kings” (Prov. 25:2). Nothing indicates that having more intelligence is bad if it guides people to truth. With several researchers from Samford University, I’ve demonstrated that AI can perform well; however, it sometimes produces falsehoods. Our research shows that if you ask ChatGPT to create academic reference citations, the program may invent names of books that don’t exist. Additionally, our findings suggest the reliability of the ChatGPT model decreases as the prompts become more specific. Christians shouldn’t fear AI. But we should be prudent in how we use it. Having a machine that can answer any question puts us in an interesting position. Do we know how to craft the right questions to pose to AI (“prompt engineering”)? Will we build talking machines that flatter us and help us commit crimes, or will we progress in understanding through AI’s ability to quickly synthesize vast amounts of information? Is “intelligence” that’s more informed than us valuable if it isn’t accompanied by discernment and moral evaluation? Without spiritual discernment and wisdom to guide this process, humans could end up more confused than ever. King Solomon tried wisdom, along with everything else a human could pursue in this world. He reported, “With much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief” (Eccl. 1:18, NIV). Having access to vast amounts of rapidly synthesized information doesn’t insulate us against suffering. Christians should neither fear LLMs nor count on them to solve all our problems. Comfort of God’s Superior Wisdom God’s higher intelligence comforts us in a changing world. His omniscience assures believers he comprehends the complexities of every situation, even amid our uncertainty. It’s reassuring to know God sees beyond the present moment and understands the broader implications of events. He also cares about individuals. Psalm 139:1–2 affirms this: “O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.” God’s higher intelligence comforts us in a changing world. God’s wisdom surpasses human understanding, providing guidance in times of upheaval. Proverbs 3:5–6 encourages trust in the Lord’s wisdom: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Believers find solace in relying on God’s superior wisdom, knowing his plans are ultimately for their good (Jer. 29:11; Rom. 8:28). It may be hard to fathom how far technological and scientific understanding will eventually progress in the age of AI and in whatever age comes after. God’s unchanging nature offers stability and security in a changing world. Hebrews 13:8 declares, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” His character and steadfast love are consistent, regardless of whether the world is rocked by the printing press or social media. Technology has advanced, but God is the same.

Recently, I was searching for a job after an unexpected layoff. The cycle of applications, calls, networking, and interviews was ponderous. I wasn’t sure how things were going to work out. Prolonged uncertainty and lack of control pushed me into self-doubt and a sense of purposelessness. I felt I was wasting time. Mark Vroegop has advice for those in waiting periods—for a job offer, test results, or just that perfect parking spot. In Waiting Isn’t a Waste: The Surprising Comfort of Trusting God in the Uncertainties of Life, he gives a roadmap for embracing waiting as an opportunity for spiritual growth. Reframe Waiting Waiting for something visible is difficult for most of us. Waiting for what we can’t see is often worse. Vroegop, lead pastor of College Park Church in Indianapolis and a TGC Board member, explains how to redeem our inevitable waiting periods. Covering some of the same territory as Kelly Kapic’s book You’re Only Human, he reminds us we’re finite creatures designed with limitations. We can’t speed up time or see the future. We have to depend on a good God in our “gap moments.” Vroegop writes, “Waiting on God is living on what I know to be true about God, when I don’t know what’s true about my life” (xix). This requires a perspective shift. Waiting isn’t a burden; it’s a spiritual practice ordained by God for our good and his glory. It teaches us to depend on God every moment because we “can’t buy manna in bulk” (15). Ultimately, waiting deepens our trust in God’s sovereign plan. Waiting helps us better understand the eschatological phrase “already but not yet.” Believers currently participate in God’s kingdom, though we know the kingdom’s full realization is still to come. Waiting is the basic condition of the church, since “uncertainty, tension, and waiting are how the church began” (84). Waiting, therefore, is an inescapable part of following Christ as we long for his return and for the restoration of all things. Embrace Waiting In deft pastoral fashion, Vroegop offers a four-step strategy from Psalm 25 for redeeming waiting. He argues we should FAST (focus, adore, seek, and trust) in our waiting times. This practical framework is grounded in biblical principles and fosters a deeper connection with God. We’re being formed as we wait. Waiting is an inescapable part of following Christ as we long for his return and for the restoration of all things. Resigned passivity and hopeful anticipation are radically different. Vroegop argues, “Patient waiting is not fatalistic or pessimistic. It’s the hopeful commitment to seek God’s help creatively and faithfully while staying put” (56). His approach requires believers to engage in the waiting process rather than merely enduring it. Those periods of expectation are filled with meditation on God’s attributes as we pray, read Scripture, and ultimately trust in God’s goodness. According to Vroegop, the root of our impatience is our desire for control. Our culture is filled with advertising slogans like “Your way, right away.” As a result, waiting often feels like a punishment. But Vroegop flips the script on our culture of instant gratification by showing that waiting is woven throughout the Bible. Abraham and Sarah waited for the promised child in their old age (Gen. 21:1–7). The Israelites waited to be delivered from Egypt (Ex. 2:23–25). David waited patiently for his coronation as king (2 Sam. 2:1–4). The prophet Habakkuk cried out in anguish, “O LORD, how long?” as he yearned for justice to come (Hab. 1:2). These experiences of waiting aren’t peripheral to the stories; they’re evidence within the biblical narrative of ordinary people being shaped through periods of waiting on God. The prevalence of waiting in the biblical narrative upends the perception that waiting is an aberration. We shouldn’t see it as divine neglect. Instead, it’s one way God shapes our character, teaches us to rely on him, and brings glory to himself. We should embrace our times of waiting as gifts from God. Experience Waiting Waiting Isn’t a Waste is concise. It’s also practical, with appendixes to structure the reader’s meditation on God’s character, in addition to a list of passages from the Psalms that emphasize waiting. Vroegop also provides a worksheet to help readers remember ways God has previously been faithful. That’s an exercise we could all benefit from. If I’d read Vroegop’s book during my unemployment, it would’ve improved my waiting experience. Anxiety and doubt troubled me. Had I been more deliberate about focusing on God’s character, adoring him through worship and prayer, seeking his guidance through Scripture, and trusting in his sovereign plan, I could’ve spent my time better. Resigned passivity and hopeful anticipation are radically different. Even before reading the book, there were moments when I sporadically lived out some of what Vroegop recommends. For instance, when I felt particularly discouraged, I often turned to the Psalms and found comfort in the honest expressions of anguish and trust in God’s faithfulness. But Waiting Isn’t a Waste would’ve taught me to systematically invest that time to become more Christlike. I survived, but I could’ve thrived in that waiting season. Vroegop doesn’t offer an easy solution to anxiety and impatience amid waiting. But he does provide a pastoral book to help believers redeem the time. It’s an excellent resource for those currently waiting or those who simply know they need to learn to wait well.

Don Carson teaches on James 1:12–25, reminding believers to persevere amid suffering and temptation, looking to God’s promises, goodness, and sovereignty to anchor them. Though trials can become temptations to sin, God doesn’t tempt his people; he tests them to strengthen their faith and obedience. Carson highlights the importance of abiding in the word of God for spiritual growth and freedom, and he encourages Christians to count trials as joy because they lead to deeper spiritual maturity and faith in Christ.

I cuss like a sailor, but Michael Kay is on point here

'Rank hypocrisy'

Investors and executives have reaped a massive windfall

'Nefarious censorship efforts have been weaponized to interfere in our elections'