WHAT’S ON WHAT’S UP TODAY:

University educators are sounding the alarm.

Students no longer arrive at college prepared to engage with full-length texts.

But what does this mean?

The Decline Of The Texas Public Education System.

Is the Main Stream Media bending people’s perception of the economy downward?

First Segment: Biblical-Literacy Lesson with Mark Lanier -
  AI and the Theology of Science.

First Segment: Young Adult Pastor Emory Cothen, Champion Forest -
  Take Heart

Today’s closing prayer:
Omniscient Father,
Thank you for calling us your children. May we hide your precepts in our hearts and minds that we might not sin against you. More below …

Discussed by Terry Lowry
with Host of the What's UP Radio Program

Host Terry Lowry interviews influential and knowledgeable guests on relevant topics for today.

THE DECLINE OF THE TEXAS PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM

Discussed by Matthew McCormick
with Texas Public Policy Foundation (www.TexasPolicy.com)

University educators are sounding the alarm that students no longer arrive at college prepared to engage with full-length texts. But what does this mean?

Today, new guest Matthew McCormick discusses this extremely troubling news and what must be done to reverse the trend. Matthew is a K-12 Education Policy Analyst for the Next Generation Texas initiative at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

Click here to read Matthew’s op-ed on this important topic.

Questions/Issues Discussed:

Are Texas student assessment results disappointing?

Who has been controlling the education system in Texas for decades: Conservatives or Liberals?

Are many students really unprepared for college?

Why has the Texas Legislature charged the Texas State Board of Education Members to begin reversing decades of declining literacy? Matthew discusses what the SBOE has been tasked with and whether or not their goal is attainable if nothing changes within individual school districts.

What is the American Library Association? Are they Conservative or Liberal?

What does Matthew McCormick foresee for the future of K-12 education in Texas if academic guidelines are truly changed?

Click here to help support the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

IT’S THE ECONOMY. STUPID.

Discussed by Phil Kerpen
with American Commitment (AmericanCommitment.org)

Is the Main Stream Media bending people’s perception of the economy downward?

Today, Phil Kerpen gives an honest review of the US economy. Did policies by the Biden Administration increase inflation and tank the economy? Are Trump policies really helping? Phil Kerpen is the President of American Commitment and the Founder of Unleash Prosperity.

Click here and here for the latest news from both organizations.

Questions/Issues Discussed:

Are President Trump’s policies reducing inflation? Phil Kerpen discusses several of the policies and how they are helping.

What caused the hyperinflation to begin with?

Is there a clear difference between Conservative economic policies and Liberal economic policies? Which ones are generally better for the American people? Phil Kerpen compares some recent policy proposals and reveals some of the voting trends among the parties.

Does the average American really understand how inflation works – and why it is so very difficult to immediately reverse a high inflation rate?

How is the Main Stream Media influencing many Americans’ perception of the economy?

The new buzz word is “affordability”. What does this mean and how is it being used to influence the American population? Phil Kerpen explains how and why the Left is using “affordability” to blame Trump policies for the economy and high debt rate – when it’s really THEIR fault! He says: “They’re much better at politics than they are at economics.” So true!

Click here to help support the American Commitment mission to restore and protect free markets, economic growth, Constitutionally-limited government, property rights, and individual freedom in America.

A MOUSETRAP ISN’T JUST A MOUSETRAP

Discussed by Sara Tracey
with The What's UP Radio Program

A Mousetrap isn’t Just a Mousetrap

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. “What food might this contain?” the mouse wondered. He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning: “There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!” The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said: “Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it.”

The mouse turned to the pig and told him: “There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!” The pig sympathized, but said: “I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers.”

The mouse turned to the cow and said: “There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!” The cow said: “Wow, Mr. Mouse. I’m sorry for you, but it’s no skin off my nose.”

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer’s mousetrap alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house – like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer’s wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.

The snake bit the farmer’s wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup’s main ingredient.

But his wife’s sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer’s wife did not get well; she died.

So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them. The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

What’s the moral of the story? The next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn’t concern you, remember: when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.

We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another. Each of us is a vital thread in another person’s tapestry.

You can shake your head and go "Tsk-tsk-tsk, it's such a shame". But just wait for another virus, business shutdown, riots in another city, war in another country, or any other major problem. It will eventually affect you!

Remember the poem by John Donne: “No Man is an Island”

AI AND THE THEOLOGY OF SCIENCE

Discussed by Mark Lanier
with Biblical Literacy (www.Biblical-Literacy.com)

Day 1

Are we playing “god” with Artificial Intelligence? What does it mean to be a human? Should we continue developing AI or slam on the brakes? Furthermore, what can we learn about AI from the Bible?

Mark Lanier is back from his wonderful summer vacation. This week, he will be teaching a stand-alone lesson on the good, the bad, and the ugly of AI as it ties into the theology of science.

To view Mark Lanier’s video for this lesson, click here.

If you have a prayer request, need Scripture encouragement, or would like a copy of Mark’s lessons each week, email wantmore@biblical-literacy.org

QUESTIONS / ISSUES DISCUSSED:

What is Artificial Intelligence? Is AI just robots taking over the world? What is theology? Is theology just the study of the Bible?

Genesis 1:26 (paraphrased) “Let us make man in our image and let them have dominion…” Will man lose ultimate control to AI? Mark discusses the history of computers, “machine learning”, and the Turing Test. Tune in tomorrow as he discusses more…

For more information about Mark Lanier’s Biblical Literacy class, click here.

TAKE HEART

Discussed by Pastor Emory Cothen
with Champion Forest Baptist Church (www.ChampionForest.org)

Day 1

WHAT DO YOU DO FIRST WHEN YOU ARE FACED WITH A SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION? DO YOU TRY TO FIX IT ON YOUR OWN? OR DO YOU RUN TO GOD?

This week, Champion Forest Baptist Church Young Adults Pastor Emory Cothen encourages us to TAKE HEART and remember that God is in control of ALL things.

Scripture Reference: Mark 6:45-56

Find Pastor Emory Cothen’s sermon here.

Find Pastor Emory Cothen’s sermon notes here.

If you have questions about a sermon, please contact Champion Forest at questions@cfbc.org

If you have questions about a sermon, please contact Champion Forest at questions@cfbc.org

Questions/Issues Discussed:

Have you ever been scared for your life? Have you ever been in a seemingly hopeless situation? Pastor Emory begins the sermon with a story about the best and worst day of his life – which happened on the same day!

How can Jesus help us in those types of situations? Pastor Emory gives the context of what happened before the disciples’ trip out to sea and begins to read from the Scripture passage. Tune in tomorrow for more on this story.


If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, text the word JESUS to 77069 and a pastor or counselor from CFBC will call you back.

For more details about Champion Forest Baptist Church click here.

PRAYER

Discussed by Terry Lowry
with Host of the What's UP Radio Program

Omniscient Father,

Thank you for calling us your children. May we hide your precepts in our hearts and minds that we might not sin against you.

May we, as Christ-followers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. May our labor not be in vain.

Remind us of your holiness and righteousness, for we have been delivered from the grip of the enemy.

Let us go forth and serve without fear of death, sharing the Good News far and wide, for we have been saved for eternity. May the harvest be abundant.

May we not grow weary serving you, Father, and your Son, Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit, fill each believer now to overflowing.

Father God, look down on your humble servants. Forgive, protect, guide, and provide as we walk this side of glory.

We pray all this in the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen