UnitedHealthcare CEO gunned down in NYC, Trump pick for Drug Enforcement Administration withdraws, Philippians 4:6 most popular verse this year

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It’s Thursday, December 5th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 125 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I’m Adam McManus. ([e-mail])

By Jonathan Clark and Adam McManus

Muslim terrorist group in Syria puts Christians in grave danger

Islamic militias with the Organization for the Liberation of the Levant took over Syria’s second largest city of Aleppo last week.

It’s the latest offensive in the years-long civil war between government forces and armed rebel groups in the country.

The tensions mean grave danger for Christians who live in the area. Churches are still open, but militants are removing Christmas decorations.

The Muslim terrorist group is known for brutal governance and violent persecution. Please pray for Christians in Syria, ranked 12th on the Open Doors’ World Watch List of nations where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

1 Peter 4:12-13 says, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”

UnitedHealthcare CEO gunned down in NYC

In the United States, chilling video shows the moment a gunman calmly shoots down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, age 50, at close range on the streets of Midtown Manhattan in front of the New York Hilton Hotel on Wednesday morning, reports the New York Post.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny explained what happened before the shooting.

KENNY: “The shooter arrived at the location on foot about five minutes prior to the victim’s arrival. He stands alongside the building line as numerous other people and pedestrians pass him by. From video, we see at 6:44am the victim is walking alone towards the Hilton after exiting his hotel across the street. We believe the victim was headed to the Hilton Hotel to attend the United Health Group investors conference that was scheduled to start at 8am.”

In the video, the unidentified assailant — clad in a black hoodie, black mask, black pants, gloves and wearing a gray backpack — can be seen methodically firing what appears to be a single-action handgun at the CEO, pulling back the slide with each shot.

Thompson stumbles back upon the first shot, which appears to hit him in the back, briefly turning to face the shooter before falling to the sidewalk and attempting to crawl away as the gunman continues firing.

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch added this.

TISCH: “At this time, every indication is that this was a premeditated, pre-planned, targeted attack.”

While the shooter fled on foot and disappeared into Central Park, emergency personnel administered CPR at the scene to Thompson, before rushing him to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The shooter remains at large.

TISCH: “The full investigative efforts of the New York City Police Department are well underway, and we will not rest until we identify and apprehend the shooter in this case.”

UnitedHealthcare is the nation’s largest health insurer. It is a division of UnitedHealth Group, the fourth-largest public company in America behind Walmart, Amazon, and Apple.

Thompson’s wife, Paulette, told NBC News that he had been receiving threats perhaps over a lack of health care coverage.

Plus, another wrinkle in the story, is that Thompson was one of several senior executives at UnitedHealthcare under investigation by the Department of Justice. On February 16^th, he exercised stock options and sold shares worth $15.1 million, less than two weeks before news of the federal antitrust probe went public, according to a Crain’s New York Business report from April.

Trump pick for Drug Enforcement Administration withdraws

On Tuesday, Chad Chronister, President-elect Donald Trump’s selection to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration, said that he would withdraw from consideration, reports NBC News.

Chronister, who is the sheriff in Hillsborough County, Florida, said he would turn down Trump’s planned nomination to be the next DEA administrator just three days after Trump announced it.

He is the second of Trump’s administration picks to take his name out of the running, after former Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida dropped his bid to become attorney general last month.

Chronister ran into a series of hurdles from Trump’s political base because of how he handled the coronavirus pandemic — particularly his decision in 2020 to arrest Tampa Pastor Ronald Howard-Browne for simply holding a church service.

Pro-life ruling upholds ban on abortion trafficking

A federal appeals court upheld an Idaho law on Monday that bans abortion trafficking, reports the Idaho Capital Sun.

The 2023 law protects pregnant minors from being transported for an abortion without their parents’ knowledge. The law is in addition to a 2022 law that bans nearly all abortions.

Linda Thomas, Director of Community Outreach, told LifeNews, “With abortions virtually banned in Idaho, Planned Parenthood and other organizations are actively coaching and luring women across state lines for abortions. This is abortion trafficking.”

Transgender case heard at Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a major transgender case yesterday.

The Biden administration is challenging a Tennessee law that protects children from drugs and operations meant to enable them to pretend to be the opposite sex.

The conservative majority on the court appeared supportive of the law during the hearing.

However, a decision isn’t expected for months. The ruling could affect similar measures in 25 other states.

Philippians 4:6 most popular verse this year

And finally, the Bible app YouVersion reports that more people engaged with the Bible this year in record numbers.

The most popular verse of the year was Philippians 4:6. It says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Bible engagement grew significantly in Central Africa, Eastern Africa, and Latin America.

One of YouVersion’s partners in the app is 24-7 Prayer International. Carla Harding noted, “Throughout 2024, we have seen a rise in the number of people dedicating themselves to night and day prayer in different nations around the world. Our hope is that through continual prayer, the global church would be ignited in the presence of God and carry His love with greater compassion and power to the communities around them.”

Close

And that’s The Worldview on this Thursday, December 5th, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by Amazon Music or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I’m Adam McManus ([e-mail]). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

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