American Christians face a choice. Not between Republican and Democrat. Not between conservative and progressive. But between two very different visions of Christianity. One vision sees faith primarily as a tool for power. It celebrates strength, domination, cultural warfare, and victory over enemies. In this worldview, cruelty can be excused if it serves the "right" cause. The other vision is rooted in something older: the belief that every person bears the image of God. It is the Christianity that cared for widows, orphans, strangers, and the sick. The Christianity that values truth over propaganda, humility over pride, service over status, and character over power. Jesus did not wash the feet of His disciples because He lacked power. He did it because He understood what true leadership looks like. The future of Christianity will not be determined by who wins the next election. It will be determined by whether Christians choose the path of the warrior seeking power or the path of Christ, who came to serve rather than be served. History suggests that whenever the Church becomes obsessed with political power, it loses its moral authority. And whenever it returns to the teachings of Christ, it changes the world.

In May, Ukraine recorded the highest number of civilian casualties from russian attacks since 2022, the UN reported. At least 274 civilians were killed and 1,763 were wounded, as russia intensified strikes on Ukrainian cities. This is not war. This is terrorism. The primary responsibility lies with russia and the terrorist regime in the Kremlin, which continues its genocidal campaign against Ukraine. But responsibility does not end there. I also blame the silent supporters and enablers of this evil. Perhaps the most significant among them is Donald Trump. He promised to “end the war in 24 hours,” and many believed him. Instead, he gave Putin a blank check. He invited this war criminal to the United States of America. And now his portrait hangs in the White House. So no surprise, since Trump’s return, russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine have skyrocketed. Trump’s pro-russian rhetoric, refusal to support Ukraine, and repeated praise of Putin have emboldened the Kremlin to escalate its assault. The United States halted military aid to Ukraine. Ukraine is now critically short of air defense systems. Civilians are dying because they cannot be adequately protected. U.S. intelligence support was curtailed, weakening Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and allowing russian forces to regain territory and advance further. Instead of standing with Ukraine, Trump handed a lifeline to the russian economy. By removing restrictions on russian oil, billions of dollars are flowing back into the Kremlin’s war machine. That means more missiles. More drones. More dead Ukrainians. Trump has become an enabler of russian terrorism. History will remember this.

A must read. I just came across this 1898 poem "The Truce of the Bear" by Rudyard Kipling, that warns against trusting a "bear" (representing russia) that feigns weakness and humanity to attack. Yearly, with tent and rifle, our careless white men go By the Pass called Muttianee, to shoot in the vale below. Yearly by Muttianee he follows our white men in— Matun, the old blind beggar, bandaged from brow to chin. Eyeless, noseless, and lipless - toothless, broken of speech, Seeking a dole at the doorway he mumbles his tale to each; Over and over the story, ending as he began: "Make ye no truce with Adam-zad - the Bear that walks like a Man! "There was a flint in my musket - pricked and primed was the pan, When I went hunting Adam-zad - the Bear that stands like a Man. I looked my last on the timber, I looked my last on the snow, When I went hunting Adam-zad fifty summers ago! "I knew his times and his seasons, as he knew mine, that fed By night in the ripened maizefield and robbed my house of bread. I knew his strength and cunning, as he knew mine, that crept At dawn to the crowded goat-pens and plundered while I slept. "Up from his stony playground - down from his well-digged lair. Out on the naked ridges ran Adam-zad the Bear. Groaning, grunting, and roaring, heavy with stolen meals, Two long marches to northward, and I was at his heels! "Two long marches to northward, at the fall of the second night, I came on mine enemy Adam-zad all panting from his flight. There was a charge in the musket - pricked and primed was the pan. My finger crooked on the trigger - when he reared up like a man. "Horrible, hairy, human, with paws like hands in prayer, Making his supplication rose Adam-zad the Bear! I looked at the swaying shoulders, at the paunch's swag and swing, And my heart was touched with pity for the monstrous, pleading thing. "Touched with pity and wonder, I did not fire then . . . I have looked no more on women - I have walked no more with men. Nearer he tottered and nearer, with paws like hands that pray. From brow to jaw that steel-shod paw, it ripped my face away! "Sudden, silent, and savage, searing as flame the blow - Faceless I fell before his feet, fifty summers ago. I heard him grunt and chuckle - I heard him pass to his den. He left me blind to the darkened years and the little mercy of men. "Now ye go down in the morning with guns of the newer style, That load (I have felt) in the middle and range (I have heard) a mile? Luck to the white man's rifle, that shoots so fast and true, But - pay, and I lift my bandage and show what the Bear can do!" (Flesh like slag in the furnace, knobbed and withered and grey. Matun, the old blind beggar, he gives good worth for his pay.) "Rouse him at noon in the bushes, follow and press him hard - Not for his ragings and roarings flinch ye from Adam-zad. "But (pay, and I put back the bandage) this is the time to fear, When he stands up like a tired man, tottering near and near; When he stands up as pleading, in wavering, man-brute guise, When he veils the hate and cunning of his little, swinish eyes; "When he shows as seeking quarter, with paws like hands in prayer That is the time of peril - the time of the Truce of the Bear!" Eyeless, noseless, and lipless, asking a dole at the door, Matun, the old blind beggar, he tells it o'er and o'er; Fumbling and feeling the rifles, warming his hands at the flame, Hearing our careless white men talk of the morrow's game; Over and over the story, ending as he began: "There is no truce with Adam-zad, the Bear that looks like a Man!"

The EU is set to open the first cluster of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on June 15. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa announced that all EU member states agreed to move forward. This is a major step, but not the finish line. Further progress toward EU membership will depend on the implementation of reforms. The breakthrough came after Hungary lifted its long-standing veto on Ukraine’s accession process. Ukraine belongs in Europe. Moldova belongs in Europe. And russia does not get a veto over the future of free nations.

Usyk: Just in case, he showed up in a suit. Trump: Just in case, he didn’t talk too much nonsense. JD Vance: Just in case, he didn’t show up at all.

Because of Ukrainian sanctions, fuel restrictions have been introduced in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Kazan: russians are now limited to purchasing only 20 liters of fuel per fill-up.

Workers have begun removing Donald Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center. Earlier today, a judge denied the Kennedy Center board’s request to pause a ruling that requires Trump’s name to be removed from the building. Thankfully, the system of checks and balances is not entirely broken in the U.S.

A cartoon exposing the moral bankruptcy of Marco Rubio and the entire U.S. administration.

Today is a terrorrissia Day. I want to wish one thing to this dying empire - may your end be soon.

As expected, Marco Rubio has congratulated the terrorist state with russia Day: “On behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the Russian people on Russia Day. The United States remains committed to advancing a peaceful solution to the Russia-Ukraine war. We remain hopeful that a durable peace will pave the way toward a more prosperous future for the Russian people and a more constructive relationship between our two countries.” Here is his last year’s message: “On behalf of the American people, I want to congratulate the Russian people on Russia Day. The United States remains committed to supporting the Russian people as they continue to build on their aspirations for a brighter future. We also take this opportunity to reaffirm the United States’ desire for constructive engagement with the Russian Federation to bring about a durable peace between Russia and Ukraine. It is our hope that peace will foster more mutually beneficial relations between our countries.”

Hitler's Cross: What happens when the church trades the Gospel for political power. I recently came across a book called Hitler’s Cross, by Erwin Lutzer. It examines how the Nazi regime manipulated Christianity to advance its political and ideological goals, and how most of the German church – the institutional body charged with preserving the teaching of Christ – allowed itself to be captured. It is a sobering study of what happens when a religious institution chooses stability over truth. Read the full article on my Substack: economicsofpower.substack.co…

For the first time in 23 years, Moscow’s traditional russia Day concert will not take place on Red Square. The event has been moved to “hide from possible Ukrainian strikes.” The program was significantly reduced, with performances by several well-known russian propagandists canceled. Source: United 24

When people still post memes like this, it tells me one thing: they have no ability to think critically. This is why education is so important, including at least a basic understanding of economics. I was not a fan of Biden, but the price spike in 2022 was driven primarily by the post-pandemic economic recovery and Trump's OPEC deal in 2020. The spike in 2026 is being driven primarily by Trump's incompetence and his failed war against Iran. Think, people, think! Don't just post idiotic memes. They do nothing for your credibility.

Today is a terrorrissia Day. Last year, Marco Rubio, congratulated the terrorist state by saying: “On behalf of the American people, I want to congratulate the Russian people on Russia Day. The United States remains committed to supporting the Russian people as they continue to build on their aspirations for a brighter future. We also take this opportunity to reaffirm the United States’ desire for constructive engagement with the Russian Federation to bring about a durable peace between Russia and Ukraine. It is our hope that peace will foster more mutually beneficial relations between our countries.” I wonder what his message will be this year.

Ukraine continues to impose fiery sanctions on russia. Today, drones struck one of russia’s largest petrochemical complexes in Nizhnekamsk, Tatarstan, located more than 1,200 km from the Ukrainian border. The Tolyattikauchuk petrochemical plant in the Samara region was also reportedly targeted.

Parasites and Propaganda There are people who act exactly like parasites. Here is one of them: Former Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller. For the past few weeks he has been parasitically and cynically exploiting the issue of Bandera and the UPA for his propaganda narratives. And now he is defending the Bulgakov monument in Kyiv. Basically, defending russian imperialism. For me, this is another nail in the coffin, confirming that the anti-Ukrainian and pro-russian propaganda is alive and well in Poland at the highest level.

For the first time since the Soviet era, russia is building a new military base near the Finnish border. According to Finnish broadcaster Yle, the base in Novaya Vilga, Karelia, could eventually house 4,000-6,000 troops and include more than 50 military and residential buildings. While russia is expanding its infrastructure along the NATO border, the war against Ukraine continues to consume much of its manpower and resources. Ukraine is not only defending itself. It is buying time for Europe.

Wholesale prices rose 1.1% in May, putting the 12-month wholesale inflation rate at 6.5% - the highest since November 2022. What is even worse is that inflation is now outpacing wages- basically Americans are becoming poorer. I hope everyone feels how bigly they are winning and how Trump is making America great again.

The scene you can see every day throughout Ukraine. The best Ukrainians are defending freedom - securing the future of Ukraine today and Europe tomorrow. The pain russians have inflicted on Ukrainians will be felt for generations. The evil they have unleashed will never be forgotten. The crimes they have committed will be punished.

It should break every Christian's heart that our faith was used as a political tool to bring our country to where it is today. Rev. Benjamin Cremer