NATO Shapeshifting, Arms Dealing, and Empire

https://natowatch.org/default/2026/shape-shifting-nato-keeps-transatlantic-arms-flowing-loyalty-alms-us-president    

This article provides a different assessment of the July 2026 Ankara NATO Summit than what you'll commonly find in the mainstream media. The website is not anti-NATO in any way shape or form. These are true believers but ones wary of corruption or mission creep. The site exists as a means to promote serious discussion and inquiry toward holding NATO accountable and keeping the alliance (as they see it) on course.

Evangelicalism in Venezuela - Celebrating the Empire and Rejecting the New Testament

https://www.facebook.com/reachjulieroys/posts/latino-evangelical-christians-are-celebrating-the-us-capture-of-venezuelas-nicol/1442902880524692/

The article is sad enough to read but I found these Facebook comments to be even more depressing. It demonstrates just how the Dominionist mindset has infiltrated Latin American Evangelicalism. All across the region Evangelicals are lining up behind Right-wing candidates, demonstrating how easily they are manipulated by propaganda - much of which finds it origins in projects launched by their 'brethren' in the United States over the past few decades. It's a vicious and evil cycle.

An Evangelical Call for the State to Sanction Religious Speech

https://evangelicalfocus.com/europe/35103/patriarch-kirill-has-built-a-theological-architecture-built-to-sanctify-aggression

It would seem Tatiana Kopaleishvili, a female theologian from the Evangelical Alliance supports the notion of EU sanctions against Kirill, the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. The charge is that he has employed propaganda in which the war against Ukraine is deemed by Kirill, a holy conflict. As such, given his teachings are deemed authoritative by his flock, he is guilty of war crimes and worthy of sanctions.

Spain, Ukraine, and the Renewed Call for an EU Army

https://www.dailysabah.com/world/europe/spains-pm-sanchez-calls-for-eu-army-stronger-global-role

Donald Trump hates the centre-left Spanish government of Pedro Sanchez. It has refused to cooperate with Trump's agenda and has pointedly condemned US actions against Iran.

Sacralism, Smartphone Technology, and a PBS Report on Chinese Underground Christians

https://www.pbs.org/video/crackdown-on-christians-1761415813/

Sadly this reporting reveals a direct correlation between American geopolitical and economic pressure on China and Xi's decision to persecute Christians.

Chang on the Xi-Trump Summit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXQQKcHRgnA

There have been numerous commentaries regarding the recent Trump-Xi meetings in Beijing. Some insist that Trump arrived in a position of strength and came away scoring significant victories in terms of geo-strategic commitments and trade deals. Unsurprisingly, such interpretations are found among Trump supporters.

A New Wave of US Troop Withdrawals from Germany

As a form of punishment and warning, Donald Trump has announced the withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany. It must be recognized this is a symbolic action and means little to nothing as all the systems and infrastructure that are in place will not change. He is frustrated that NATO is not coming to his rescue as the Iran War has not gone according to plan and is generating significant economic trouble at home. Given the mid-term elections are in six months, he's starting to worry. I also would add there's a great deal that's been covered up with regard to US and Israeli losses - that will eventually come out.

Growing Militarism and Fears of World War

https://www.politico.eu/article/world-war-iii-defense-spending-europe-poll/

Politico is well known as a pro-Atlanticist publication and thus is going to represent a NATO-bias in its reporting. Despite this shortcoming, there's still some good information to be gleaned from time to time.

In this case, the article is neither profound nor surprising but rather affirming what many already sense - the world is heading toward global conflict. Indeed, history may look back and reckon the next world war as having begun in the early 2020's with the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and now Iran. These wars are becoming ever more related and interconnected and as Donald Trump discovered they are not easily disentangled or disengaged from as so many issues are woven together.

The Deranged and Violent Fantasies of Today's Evangelical Leaders

https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/national/ap-at-pentagon-christian-service-hegseth-prays-for-violence-against-those-who-deserve-no-mercy/

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/cpac-republicans-close-ranks-behind-trump-iran-war-2026-03-26/

https://consortiumnews.com/2026/03/05/hegseth-brags-of-mass-killing-in-iran/

The Hegseth prayer has received quite a bit of press coverage but unfortunately the media interactions I have encountered are from Liberal/Modernist Theologian-types that are incapable of providing a robust Biblical rejection of his theology.

Russell Vought, Pete Hegseth, and Redefining Witness

https://wng.org/opinions/clean-words-and-clean-witness-in-the-white-house-1764033683

There are so many astonishing articles being written these days - it's impossible to keep up.

This World Magazine article from back in November 2025 continues to amaze me.

Getaway Pilots and Kidnapping Plots

When crimes of robbery or kidnapping are committed, the getaway driver is often found to be of equal fault and culpability. Their participation in and facilitation of the crime marks them as guilty of the same larger crime. They are part of the violence and criminality.

Interestingly when Nicolas Maduro and his wife were kidnapped in January 2026, because it was a military operation - it's deemed legitimate. Because the soldiers involved wear the American uniform their actions are moral and justified to most of the public - and sadly most of the Church.

FLN, Disinformation, and Iran

Today on the Family Life Network (FLN), radio personality Robbie Price reported that despite US efforts, the Iranians are just not interested in trying to come to a peaceful solution. This is evidenced by the military drills conducted in the Strait of Hormuz.

Price just left it there and moved on to the next story.

Ritter, Russia, and Hersh

https://consortiumnews.com/2026/01/23/scott-ritter-getting-it-wrong-on-russia/

Seymour Hersh has been on my mind as of late. I was able to watch the 2025 documentary Cover-Up, directed by Laura Poitras. It traced and highlighted aspects of career and offered some interesting and candid moments.

The EU Response to the Venezuela Strike and Coup

I must say Europe's hypocrisy regarding the Venezuela raid is pretty staggering. Apart from some tepid appeals to the integrity of international law, the leaders of the EU have more or less acquiesced to American banditry and naked aggression - and its public proclamation of colonial-style expropriation of resources.

The Fallacy of Veteran Veneration by Evangelicals

https://www.evangelical-times.org/are-nonconformists-hypocrites-on-remembrance-sunday/

*You may not be able to read the entire article without a subscription. The Evangelical Times has restricted a lot of its content in recent years.

In the linked article, Mike Judge of Manchester writes:

"Remembrance Sunday is not about endorsing every decision of government, nor about glorifying war. It is about acknowledging sacrifice — the high price paid by those who laid down their lives in the service of others. That principle, of self-giving love, resonates deeply with the gospel we proclaim. “Greater love hath no man than this,” said our Lord, “that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Return to Subic Bay

https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/subic-bay-regains-its-importance-as-a-forward-base

This is just further evidence that the United States plans to stay in the Philippines and return the archipelago nation to its former status as a major host for US forces - a tip of the American spear in the strategic South China Sea.

Subic Bay was abandoned at the conclusion of the Cold War. The US relationship with Manila had been put under stress (largely due to the US backing of the 1965-1986 Marcos dictatorship), and there was a push to downsize and shift to other theatres. The straw that broke the camel's back was the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, a devastating and destructive event that left much of the region buried under ash. The clean-up costs and logistics were going to be terrible - the Pentagon decided it was time to walk away. Clark Air Base closed in 1991 and Subic Bay in 1992.

Washington is Trying to Start a War with Venezuela

https://trt.global/world/article/f3ee26bac380

The United States has been trying to overthrow the government of Venezuela for over twenty years. Washington detested Hugo Chavez and his campaign to destroy the Empire's domination of Latin America. The US attempted to oust him in 2002 but failed. Chavez remained popular until his death in 2013.

Evangelicals and the Shadow of War in Europe

https://cne.news/article/4780-as-war-looms-in-europe-some-christians-pursue-pacifism

Articles such as this are always going to grab my attention. I was disappointed to read the statement of Fernando Enns who apparently is unfamiliar with the argument that taking up arms in warfare is viewed by war-advocates as self-defense on a large scale, or even better they will argue that invading a country is an act of love - defending people from a murderous tyrant for example.

NATO Spending, Spanish Resistance, and Using Militarism to Enrich the Investor Class and Destroy Social Services

https://www.democracynow.org/2025/6/26/president_donald_trump_nato_iran

I was pleased to find this story touching on some larger questions that the mainstream media tends to downplay or ignore. The question of increased military budgets and militarism go hand in hand with the cutting of social services and tax cuts - some of the key economic planks of Trumpism.

Patriotic Theology: Sowing Confusion

https://tifwe.org/remembering-those-who-gave-the-greatest-sacrifice/

This was a Memorial Day-related article but it's just as appropriate for the 4th of July and indeed this whole 'Patriotic' period that seems to afflict the Church in the United States.