AGENDA Weekly – October 5-11-24 – by Curtis Bowers

Dear Friends,   

Charles Spurgeon said, “A church that does not exist to reclaim heathenism, to fight evil, to destroy error, to put down falsehood, to take the side of the poor, to denounce injustice and to hold up righteousness, is a church that has no right to be. Not for yourself, O church, do you exist, any more than Christ existed for Himself.”

1. TRUMP RETURNS TO BUTLER, PA: On Saturday, President Donald Trump returned to Butler, Pennsylvania, holding a rally in the exact location where he was nearly assassinated 13 weeks ago.

Trump said his life was spared “by the hand of Providence and the grace of God.” Vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance (R) declared, “I believe as sure as I’m standing here today that what happened was a true miracle. And on that day, America felt the truth of Scripture: ‘Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.’ I truly believe that God saved President Trump’s life that day.”

Trump took time to honor devoted Christian and fire chief Corey Comperatore, who was killed at the July rally. “Every father, husband, in America, hopes that if the time came, we would have what Corey had,” said Trump. “Tremendous courage, tremendous guts, and he wanted to protect his family, and he did protect his family.”

Trump stated, “Over the past eight years, those who want to stop us from achieving this future have slandered me, impeached me, indicted me, tried to throw me off the ballot, and even tried to kill me, but I have NEVER stopped fighting for you.”

2. MUSK SAYS GOP “MUST WIN” IN 2024: In his speech at the rally, Elon Musk stated, “The true test of someone’s character is how they behave under fire.” Musk called the election “the most important election of our lifetime” and warned, “The other side wants to take away your freedom of speech. They want to take away your right to bear arms. They want to take away your right to vote.”

Musk urged, “Register to vote, OK, and get everyone you know – and everyone you don’t know – drag them to register to vote… And then make sure they actually do vote. If they don’t, this will be the last election. Fight, fight, fight; vote, vote, vote.”

Ed. Note: The American Thinker’s Steve McCann warned that if the Marxist Democrats win, they will “irrevocably transform this nation into a despotic one-party socialist oligarchy and make certain that future elections will be meaningless… Many native-born Americans…do not understand that if this cabal wins another election cycle, they will be entrenched in the halls of power and nearly impossible to dislodge.”

3. NEW STUDY: 41 MILLION CHRISTIANS MIGHT SIT OUT ELECTION: A new study from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University found that around 104 million “people of faith” (Christians, Mormons, Jews, Muslims, etc.) will likely not vote in November, including 41 million “born-again” Christians (32 million of whom regularly attend church).

Among those who said they would not vote, 68% said they were not interested in politics, 57% said they disliked both presidential candidates, 52% said their vote wouldn’t make a difference, and 48% worried the election would be rigged.

“I see two huge takeaways from this blockbuster report,” said ACU President Len Munsil, “First, that Christians could be the deciding factor in a bunch of federal and state races – and are choosing not to be. And second, that they are longing for their local church to instruct them on how to think biblically about policy and politics.” Indeed, the poll found that around five million “regular churchgoers” would be more likely to vote if they were encouraged to do so by their pastor.

Political commentator William Wolfe observed, “If Christians don’t exercise political influence and leadership in America, the pagans will. If you sit out the election, you’re essentially saying, ‘I want the godless to have more say in the future of my country than those who know God.’ This should be unthinkable.”

Pastor Gary Hamrick warned that when Christians fail to engage, “We open the door for every evil ideology to fill the vacuum.”

Dr. George Barna urged, “If church leaders, family members, and close friends will use their influence to get reticent voters from their churches to cast a ballot on November 5, the election outcome will be meaningfully affected.”

4. 10 STATES HAVE ABORTION ON THE BALLOT: Voters in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, and South Dakota will decide on abortion ballot initiatives, including nine that would enshrine a “right” to abortion until birth.

Pro-life advocates warn that the abortion lobby is massively outspending pro-lifers and is using deceptive messaging to persuade voters. Dr. Ingrid Skop of the Charlotte Lozier Institute said, “By making these ballot initiatives worded in such a deceptive way, people think to themselves, ‘Oh, I must have to vote for this in order to allow a mom to get emergency care.’”

Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) urged, “As the people go to the polls, let’s be clear, as conservatives and yes, as Republicans, that we advocate life, that we urge our fellow Americans to support life. We will do everything we can to protect life in the law all across this country. This is absolutely foundational!”

Ed. Note: Proverbs 31:8 says, “Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.”

5. NYT SAYS THE TRUMP/KENNEDY HEALTH AGENDA IS DANGEROUS: A New York Times article titled, Resistance to Public Health, No Longer Fringe, Gains Foothold in G.O.P. Politics, stated, “The merger of the Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Donald J. Trump campaigns puts the so-called medical freedom movement on the cusp of real power in Washington, with a new slogan: ‘Make America Healthy Again.’”

The article warned, “More than just rebranded anti-vaccination activism, the movement marries fierce resistance to public health measures like vaccine mandates; deep suspicion of pharmaceutical companies and federal regulatory agencies; and an embrace of alternative medicine and natural foods… The idea of a political movement that rejects expertise and prioritizes personal choice in an epidemic is deeply troubling to public health experts, who worry that public health powers will be curtailed if Mr. Trump wins in November.”

Ed. Note: Founding father Benjamin Rush once warned, “Unless we put medical freedom into the constitution, the time will come when medicine will organize into an undercover dictatorship and force people who wish doctors and treatment of their own choice to submit to only what the dictating outfit offers.”

6. FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL: October 7 marked the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel, an assault that claimed around 1,200 Israeli lives and saw 251 taken hostage.

The Daily Wire reports that 64 hostages “are still being held alive alongside the bodies of another 33 of whom are deceased. The other 154 hostages have been either rescued or released, or their bodies have been recovered. Seven American citizens, including four still believed to be alive, are still in Hamas custody…”

Hamas says that around 41,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its counterassault into Gaza.

In his article, One Year Later: The 7 Lessons Of October 7, The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro assessed, “In the year since October 7, Israel has launched the most targeted, successful urban military operation in human history… Their ratio of terrorists to civilians killed is the lowest in recorded military history… When Trump says October 7 would never have happened on his watch, that is clearly correct… As part of its own suicidal path, the West is now importing millions of people who wish for our destruction.”

7. AMERICANS CELEBRATE JIHAD: The Daily Signal reported, “On the anniversary of the Oct. 7 massacre, Students for Justice in Palestine chapters nationwide are calling for a ‘week of rage,’ celebrating ‘one year of resistance’ and hosting vigils for the supposed ‘martyrs.’ At Columbia University on Monday, hundreds of students marched, chanting ‘intifada’ and ‘resistance is justified.’”

A recent poll found that 39% of American Muslims agreed with the statement, “Hamas did not commit murder and rape in Israel on October 7.” Only 31% agreed with the statement, “Hamas committed murder and rape in Israel on October 7.”

8. NEW STATISTICS ON THE TRANS MOVEMENT: A new report from Do No Harm details that nearly 14,000 children received insurance-covered transgender surgeries or hormone/puberty blockers between 2019 and 2023, for a profit of almost $120 million. The group also listed 225 hospitals across the country that provide such treatment. Most of the numbers came from just five left-wing states: California, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, and Washington.

Do No Harm chairman Dr. Stanley Goldfarb described the data as just “the tip of the iceberg.” Do No Harm’s Beth Serio said, “It’s a common lie in the trans industry in America that these procedures are very highly reversible, that there are no long-term effects. We know that’s simply not the case…”

Dr. Miriam Grossman reacted, “This release of data is really a nuclear bomb. We are led to believe by politicians and by many groups that these interventions are very rare and hardly happening at all in this country. And that is simply not true…. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychiatric Association for many years have been taken over by a small group of activists who simply push their agendas forward and stifle debate.”

The CDC reported that around 3% of roughly 17 million American high schoolers identify as transgender, while 2.2% are “questioning” their gender identity.

In related news, “Trans Families for Harris” held a recent Zoom call featuring speakers who urged voters to vote for Harris-Walz for their support of “gender-affirming care.”

Ed. Note: According to one April study, “Gender-affirming surgery is significantly associated with elevated suicide-attempt risks…”

9. KAMALA SAYS SHE WOULD NOT HAVE DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN BIDEN: Appearing on The View, Kamala Harris was asked, “What would you do differently than Joe Biden?” Harris responded, “There is not a thing that comes to mind,” and stated, “I’ve been a part of most of the decisions that have had impact.”

Axios noted, “Voters largely disapprove of Biden’s handling of issues like inflation, but Harris has benefited from the fact that they don’t tend to blame her. Rather than distance herself, though, she has mostly embraced Biden’s policies as she runs for the White House…”

Kamala’s admission follows a recent comment from Biden, saying that Harris was delegated “responsibility on everything from foreign policy to domestic policy.”

Ed. Note: Attorney Rogan O’Handley observed, “While people in North Carolina were suffering and dying, Kamala was filming a podcast about abortion. This is why her polls are tanking. Americans are waking up to the fact that she doesn’t love this country or our people. In fact, she despises them. That’s why she opened the border to flood it with criminals.”

10. KAMALA’S STRUGGLING MEDIA APPEARANCES: During a CBS interview, journalist Bill Whitaker asked Kamala, “Was democracy best served by President Biden stepping down and basically handing you a nomination? You didn’t have to go through a primary process. You didn’t have to fight off other contenders. That’s not really the way our system was intended to work.” CBS later edited the interview to remove weak answers from Kamala on this and other questions.

Twice in one week, Joe Biden held press conferences to coincide with Kamala’s media appearances. Biden praised Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ (R) handling of Hurricane Milton after Harris accused DeSantis of politicizing the response. Jack Posobiec concluded, “Jill Biden and Joe Biden are going around and undercutting Kamala Harris at every turn.”

At a Univision town hall, Kamala was caught using a teleprompter to answer questions.

The Hill reported that Democrats “are increasingly worried about a number of issues plaguing” the Harris campaign.

11. INFLATION STILL ERODING MIDDLE CLASS WEALTH: Former Trump Treasury Counselor Dan Kowalski noted that since January 2021, the price of car insurance has increased 57%, gas 38%, and food 21-22%.

Lending Tree reports, “More than 3 in 4 Americans say inflation and the economy are making it harder for them to afford their bills, according to a new LendingTree survey. And 40% of Americans say they’re less able to afford their monthly bills than a year ago.”

Ed. Note: Socialist British economist John Maynard Keynes said, “By a continuing process of inflation, government can confiscate, secretly and unobserved, an important part of the wealth of their citizens.”

12. FOREIGN AID UPDATES: As Americans continued to suffer from the fallout of Hurricane Helene, Kamala Harris announced $157 million in new humanitarian aid for Lebanon. World Affairs Brief editor Joel Skousen detailed that the United States has given the following amounts this year thus far:

-$24.4 billion to Ukraine.
-$11.3 billion to Israel.
-$1.95 billion to Ethiopia.
-$1.6 billion to Jordan.
-$1.4 billion to Egypt.
-$1 billion to Afghanistan.
-$1.1 billion to Somalia.
-$1 billion to Yemen.
-$987 million to Congo.
-$896 million to Syria.
-$9,000 per illegal immigrant who has entered the US.

13. THREATS OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE OVER ELECTION INCREASES: 27-year-old Afghan national Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi was arrested and charged with plotting an Election Day mass shooting. Tawhedi had been employed as a security guard for the CIA in Afghanistan, but he came to the U.S. after the Taliban gained control of his country. When pressed, Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas refused to answer questions regarding the plot.

Meanwhile, Jack Posobiec reported, “A federal bulletin has been released to law enforcement offices nationwide warning of election day and post-election violence from ‘those enthralled with the Russia-Ukraine war,’ per federal official.”

14. NOTEWORTHY STORIES:

• University of Kansas (KU) lecturer Dr. Phillip W. Lowcock has been suspended after he said of men who refuse to vote for Kamala Harris, “We can line all those guys up and shoot them, they clearly don’t understand the way the world works.”
• The Daily Signal reports, “Arizona admitted a massive error in its voter rolls, but the state’s top election official still hasn’t shared with localities the list of 218,000 registered voters who lack proof of U.S. citizenship.”
• Red State reports, “CBS has refused to air a political ad discussing Vice President Kamala Harris’ support for using taxpayer funds for ‘gender-affirming care’ for minor children, a topic that has been a hot-button issue over recent years.”
• Reuters reports, “A tight U.S. presidential race is leading some investors to brace for an unclear or contested election result that could trip up this year’s booming stock market rally… Investors expect any close outcome might also be contested this year.”
• On Thursday, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and other top House Democrats refused to commit to certifying a potential Trump victory.
• Life Site News reports, “A Calgary pastor will now have a criminal conviction after a judge found him guilty on Monday of breaching his bail conditions because he spoke out against a ‘drag queen story time’ event for children at a public library.”
• InfoWars reports, “An unmarked military-style helicopter was caught on video destroying a volunteer donation site for hurricane victims in Burnsville, North Carolina on Sunday.”

15. ELECTION QUOTES:

• “If they [social media companies] don’t moderate and monitor the content, we lose total control.” –Hillary Clinton
• “I think all of us know the Electoral College needs to go.” –Tim Walz
• “America is now facing a POLYCRISIS just weeks before the election: Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the open border, the economy, assassination plots, two wars that could turn nuclear. It’s like Biden and Harris are playing a giant game of Jenga. One wrong move and everything topples!” –Glenn Beck
• “Trump has begun traveling with additional decoy planes, dividing his motorcade at times, and putting Trump in nondescript planes that do not have his name on the side instead of his longtime 757 jet due to security concerns.” –Jack Posobiec
• “The shooter had three cell phones. The FBI has never gotten them open. The other shooter had six cell phones. They still haven’t opened them…some of the apps are foreign-based. They had no problem getting the J6 cell phones open. Why is Apple not able to open these phones?” –Donald Trump
• “If Trump wins, that Epstein client list is going to become public. Between Diddy and Epstein, there’s probably several thousand hours of footage.” –Elon Musk on why elites support Harris

16. NOTEWORTHY QUOTES:

• “Where are all the progressive Christian leaders championing the least of these in North Carolina? Where are their impassioned defenses of the downtrodden when it’s their actual neighbor and not a politically convenient foreigner?” –Auron MacIntyre
• “The people who called Ivermectin ‘horse paste’ are frustrated that you’re spreading misinformation about Helene.” –Jesse Kelly
• “The Second Amendment does not create a right to keep and bear arms, rather, it protects a pre-existing, God-given right to do so.” –AWR Hawkins
• “We are sleepwalking into a catastrophic war, lulled into compliance by non-stop media propaganda. More billions will be drained from our economy, and many more innocent lives will be lost in this madness.” –Ron Paul on a potential U.S.-Iran conflict
• “The Constitution does not permit the executive branch to unilaterally commit an act of war against a sovereign nation that hasn’t attacked the United States.” –Rep. Thomas Massie
• “Fathers and mothers, do not forget that children learn more by the eye than they do by the ear… Imitation is a far stronger principle with children than memory. What they see has a much stronger effect on their minds than what they are told.” –J.C. Ryle
• “Bad men cannot make good citizens. It is when a people forget God that tyrants forge their chains. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience, is incompatible with freedom.” –Patrick Henry
• “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” –Deuteronomy 30:19

FAITH, FAMILY & FREEDOM REPORT

1. DESANTIS PROCLAIMS DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE UNBORN: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) proclaimed Sunday, October 6, a day of prayer for the unborn, ahead of a dangerous November ballot initiative that would legalize abortion until birth in the state. The proclamation declares that “all lives, born and unborn, are a valuable gift from God and worthy of our protection.”

2. GEORGIA ABORTION BAN REINSTATED: The Georgia Supreme Court reinstated Georgia’s six-week abortion ban after it was briefly struck down. However, the ban will now allow for a few exceptions. Life Site News reported, “Georgia Life Alliance executive director Clare Bartlett praised the primary outcome of the ruling, noting that it ensures Georgia will not become a magnet for abortion seekers from neighboring states.” The six-week ban originally went into effect in 2022.

3. TRUMP RAISES MONEY FOR HURRICANE VICTIMS: Donald Trump has raised over $7 million for victims of Hurricane Helene. The groups that will receive the proceeds are Samaritan’s Purse, Water Mission, Clinch Foundation, and Mtn2Sea Ministries. The National Pulse reported, “Hurricane Helene’s destruction – and the slow federal government response – has sparked expansive private efforts to provide aid and rescue…”

4. DESANTIS BLASTS HARRIS’ RESPONSE TO HURRICANE: Florida Governor Ron Desantis (R) blasted Kamala Harris’ attempt to politicize Hurricane Milton, stating, “It’s not about you, Kamala. It’s about the people of Florida. I’ve worked on these hurricanes under both President Trump and President Biden. Neither of them ever tried to politicize it… Why all of a sudden is she trying to parachute in and inject herself when she’s never showed any interest in the past?”

5. NEW ARIZONA TEAM ANNOUNCED TO DEFEND ELECTION INTEGRITY: Just days after reports that the RNC was doing little to stop election fraud in the battleground of Arizona, the Trump campaign, the RNC, and the Arizona GOP announced a new election integrity team for the state, led by Attorney Harmeet Dhillon. Attorney Rogan O’Handley commented, “An ounce of election fraud prevention is worth 50 pounds of cure. It’s all about stopping the steal before the fraudulent ballots are commingled. Harmeet is the right woman to lead this historic effort. She’s fearless!”

6. AMERICA FIRST LEGAL FILES LAWSUIT IN ARIZONA: America First Legal sued Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (D) for refusing to release the names of over 200,000 potential voters who have not provided proof of citizenship. AFL President Stephen Miller emphasized, “It is absolutely imperative that we stop the dire threat of illegal alien voting, which is the gravest form of foreign election interference.”

7. DEMOCRATS LOSE ELECTION CASE IN GEORGIA: Georgia Judge Ural Glanville ruled against Democrats in their bid to bring investigations against members of the State Election Board. George Behizy wrote on X, “[The Judge] completely DISMISSED a lawsuit filed by Democrats who tried to overthrow members of the State Election Board for implementing crucial election integrity measures, ruling that they had no right to bring the case.”

8. ELECTION INTERFERENCE THWARTED IN PA: Scott Presler of Early Vote Action warned of attempted election interference from the Pennsylvania Department of State after they scheduled maintenance to their voter registration site at the exact time of Trump’s rally in Butler. Presler said, “It was clear that the Pennsylvania Dept. of State was engaging in election interference, trying to stop all this national attention from translating into new voter registrations.” The Department of State adjusted its maintenance time after receiving national attention.

9. MUSK PAYS AMERICANS TO GET OUT THE VOTE: Elon Musk is offering significant hourly wages to those willing to get out the vote in the upcoming election. Musk’s America PAC states, “Email us if you are interested in working on increasing voter registration and voter turnout. Pay starts at $30 per hour, with bonuses for performance.” Musk stated, “I think it’s the most important election of our lifetime. This is no ordinary election.”

10. MAJORITY OF AMERICANS FAVOR MASS DEPORTATIONS: A new NPR/PBS poll found that 59% of Americans are in favor of mass deportations. According to the poll, 32% of Democrats, 58% of Independents, and 89% of Republicans support deportations. Vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance (R) said that the deportations would “be really good for our workers who just want to earn a fair wage for doing a good day’s work.”

11. TOYOTA BACKS AWAY FROM WOKE POLICIES: Toyota announced they would no longer fund LGBTQ events or participate in the Human Rights Commission. Journalist Robby Starbuck, who exposed the company’s woke policies, stated, “To put it mildly, Toyota seems to have forgotten who their core customers are. They depend on American families and Japanese families to buy their cars. It’s time to remind them who their customers are.”

12. ER DOCTORS DO NOT HAVE TO PERFORM ABORTIONS: The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Biden Administration’s bid to force Texas ER doctors to perform abortions. The Christian Post reported, “By declining to take up the case, the Supreme Court leaves in place an appeals court panel decision from earlier this year that stops the Biden administration from requiring emergency facilities in Texas to provide abortions.”

13. AVERAGE JOE COMES OUT IN THEATERS: Average Joe tells the story of coach Joe Kennedy and his battle to be able to pray on the 50-yard line after high school football games. The Daily Signal reported, “In 2022, after a seven-year legal fight, Kennedy won his case before the Supreme Court. In early September 2023, he returned to the football field and again took a knee in prayer at the end of the game.”

14. JACK PHILLIPS WINS ANOTHER CASE: Alliance Defending Freedom announced, “The Colorado Supreme Court dismissed Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Scardina because an attorney harassing Jack did not follow the correct process in suing Jack. This win ends 12+ years of harassment, and the SCOTUS decision in 303 Creative protects Jack going forward.” Kristen Waggoner of ADF stated, “Disagreement isn’t discrimination. It has been an honor for our team to represent Jack in court over the past decade.”

15. AUSTRALIAN PASTOR STANDS FOR TRUTH: Dave Pellowe of Church and State Ministries is being investigated by the Queensland Human Rights Commission after taking a stand against the country’s Satanic “Welcome to Country” ceremonies. Pastor Pellowe declared, “[Welcome to Country rituals] are religious rituals which Christians in particular should have no part of. It’s the duty of Christians to preach the truth and the Gospel and to not mix Christianity with false religion, such as the Aboriginal traditional religion.”

16. EL SALVADOR PRESIDENT DEFENDS CRACKDOWN ON CRIME: El Salvador President Nayib Bukele declared, “I am a person of faith, I believe that God can forgive everyone. I know that if the offender repents, he will go to heaven like any other sinner. But that is God’s responsibility. Here on earth, that criminal must be in prison.” Life Site News added, “[Bukele has] refused to allow legalization of euthanasia and ‘same-sex marriage.’”

HYMN OF THE WEEK

Rejoice, The Lord Is King by Charles Wesley

Rejoice, the Lord is King!
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing
And triumph evermore!
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice,
Rejoice again, I say rejoice!

Jesus, the Savior, reigns,
The God of truth and love.
When He had purged our stains
He took His seat above!
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice,
Rejoice again, I say rejoice!

His kingdom cannot fail!
He rules o’er earth and Heav’n!
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus giv’n!
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice,
Rejoice again, I say rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope!
Jesus the Judge shall come,
And take His servants up
To their eternal home!
We soon shall hear th’ archangel’s voice!
The trump of God shall sound! Rejoice!