Heat Waves in Israel, Holy Mall Revival, Human Compost, Psalm Dust, and Shmutz (Episode #210)

🎧 Episode Rundown: Dancing Intros, Psalm Dust, & Pierogi Politics

👋 Opening Chat

• Chris: “How are you?”
• Steve: “I’m betwixt—caught between our classic intro and the new dancing one.” 🕺💃
• Listener feedback is in: someone’s not feeling the dance moves.
• Let's decide together! Text your vote to 424-444-1948 — keep the OG intro or the boogie version?

🕍 Antisemitism Alert 📢 Article: JPost - Antisemitism on the Rise https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-863795?utm_source=jpost.app.apple&utm_medium=share

• Shocking new data and headlines from the Jewish world.
• What does this mean for Christians who stand with Israel?

🔥 Heatwave Hits the Holy Land 🌡️ Article: JPost - Record Temps https://www.jpost.com/environment-and-climate-change/article-863747?utm_source=jpost.app.apple&utm_medium=share

• The Middle East is heating up—literally.
• Environmental shake-ups and the global ripple effect.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Chosen People vs. Chosen Generation? 🧠 Article: JPost - Chosen Identity https://www.jpost.com/environment-and-climate-change/article-863747?utm_source=jpost.app.apple&utm_medium=share

• Are Gen Z and Jewish identity colliding or aligning?
• Who defines chosenness in 2025?

📖 Devotional Dive – Psalm 119: Daled (vv. 25–32)

• From delight (v.24) ➡ to dust (v.25): a spiritual drop.
• Chris: “No wonder my wife calls me the prophet of doom—every high point comes with a ‘just wait.’”
• 🔑 Key themes:
  • “Teach me” (v.26) 📚
  • “Make me understand” (v.27) 💭
  • “Strengthen me” (v.28) 💪
  • “Cling to Your testimonies” (v.31) 🙌
  • “Enlarge my heart” — God’s Word expands our capacity for Him ❤️

🗞 News Blitz

1. 🩸 Former PA PM Praises Oct 7 📰 Breitbart Report https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/08/10/former-palestinian-authority-pm-praises-oct-7-massacre-courageous-hamas-plo-unity/

• He called it courageous. We call it evil.

1. 🏬 Churches in Shopping Malls 📰 CNBC Feature https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/09/americas-dying-shopping-malls-have-surprising-rebound-in-store.html

• Dead malls… now revived with the Gospel?

1. 🥟 Pierogis for Dershowitz 📰 Fox News Opinion https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/jonathan-turley-dershowitz-takes-pierogi-politics-leftist-hypocrisy

• Food, politics, and Jewish identity—served hot.

1. 🌱 Human Composting 📰 USA Today https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/08/09/states-legalize-human-composting/85454339007/

• From dust we came… to compost we return?

🗣 Yiddish Word of the Week Shmutz (שׁמוץ) — n. dust, grime

• “My soul clings to the shmutz.” Psalm 119:25, paraphrased.

 

📚 FOI Equip Update (Sponsored Segment) Two powerful upcoming FOI Equip classes:

1. Isaiah 53 with Dr. Will Varner – September 11 & 18

• A deep dive into the suffering servant through a Jewish lens.

“Two Years Later: Eyewitness Account” with Sivan Oved – October 7

• A powerful update on the events of