The Update

On May 16, 2026, Michael Link will present the sermonette, titled, “The Work Will Go On,” and Norbert Link will present the sermon, titled, “Faith in God’s Guidance and Direction.”

The live services are available, over video and audio, at http://eternalgod.org/live-services/ (12:30 pm Pacific Time; 1:30 pm Mountain Time; 2:30 pm Central Time; 3:30 pm Eastern Time; 8:30 pm Greenwich Mean Time; 9:30 pm Central European Time). Just click on Connect to Live Stream.

What does God expect of us?

We have an individual responsibility to respond to God’s calling with expectation and faith, for He has called each of us for a reason: to fulfill the plan He has for us. To take it personally, we are responsible for ourselves and for our salvation, because we choose for ourselves whether we will obey God. Nobody else can determine that for us. We will all give an account for our actions. 

2 Corinthians 5:10 says that we will ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ, “that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” God is interested in each of us individually, in how we have lived our lives, and in whether or not we are counted worthy to be part of His Family. Does God count us worthy enough to be in His Family?

When we go before God in prayer, we must truly repent of our sins. We have to do this again and again because we constantly sin, and therefore, we must always examine ourselves and how we live our lives. If we forget to do that, it becomes easier to slip up while also forgetting to ask God for forgiveness. We must be strong-willed and have a clear, focused mind. We need to continue asking God for strength and for more of His Holy Spirit, just as David did over and over again.  

Sometimes it is difficult to keep out of someone else’s matters; especially, when it comes to our own spiritual salvation. There is nothing wrong with trying to help another person when he or she is slipping, but we must be careful that we do not slip ourselves. In Galatians 6:1-5, we read, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.”

We need to concentrate on how WE are going to make it since each of us will give an account of ourselves to God (Romans 14:12).

The concept of personal responsibility is taught in the Bible. Ezekiel 18:20 says: “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” Isaiah 3:10-11 (NIV) also states: “Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done.”

God clearly defined what is right and wrong from the beginning of the Bible with Adam and Eve, and He still expects His people to do what is right today. Everyone who has sinned along the way has been held responsible for his or her actions, just as we are responsible for ours. There were times when people tried to avoid personal responsibility by blaming others. Adam tried to blame Eve, Eve tried to blame Satan, and so on. We cannot fool God, and attempts to pass the blame to others when we ourselves have sinned will not work. We cannot hide our sins either: “But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).

When God specifically commands what we are to do, He expects us to obey. Those who choose to reject the Truth of God are without excuse, as Romans 1:20 (NIV) points out: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”  

We must do what we need to do and continue to fulfill our responsibility.

By Norbert Link

We begin with further developments regarding Trump’s Iran war, including the short-lived “Project Freedom” and new revelations that Iran has not been “defeated” by a long shot; and we report on the fragile state of the US Navy’s submarines and blasphemy and idolatry in the USA pertaining to a golden statue of Donald Trump.  We also address Marco Rubio’s humiliating meeting with Pope Leo; and Cuba’s warning directed at the USA.

We continue with Tucker Carlson’s note-worthy interview with the German publication, “Die Zeit,” and with the claim that Epstein’s “suicide note” was a fake and a forgery.

We speak on dramatic and quick developments in Germany, including Russia’s verbal attacks on Germany; and the collapse of governments in Romania and Hungary; and Russia’s veiled threats against Albania.

We conclude with the chaos in Britain and a “government in decline.”

Please view our new StandingWatch program, titled, “Could America Survive a New Major War?” 

Iran “Responds” To US Proposal

The Associated Press wrote on May 10:

“Iran has sent its response to the latest U.S. ceasefire proposal to Pakistani mediators and wants negotiations to focus on permanently ending the war, Iran’s state-run media said Sunday. State TV said Iran seeks to end the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and ensure the security of shipping. Washington’s latest proposal had addressed a deal to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and roll back Iran’s nuclear program, an issue that Tehran would rather discuss later…

“Another sticking point in negotiations is the fate of Iran’s highly enriched uranium. The U.N. nuclear agency says Iran has more than 440 kilograms (970 pounds) of uranium that is enriched up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels. In an interview with state media posted late Saturday, a spokesman for Iran’s military said its forces were on ‘full readiness’ to protect nuclear sites where uranium is stored… The majority of Iran’s highly enriched uranium is likely at its Isfahan nuclear complex…”

The Sun wrote on May 11:

“The US President blasted the regime on Truth Social, writing: ‘I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called “Representatives.” I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.’… The US President earlier accused Iran of playing games with the US for almost 50 years, threatening: ‘They will be laughing no longer!’”

Al Jazeera added on May 11:

“Donald ⁠Trump says the ceasefire with Iran is ‘on life support,’ after dismissing Tehran’s response to ⁠a US peace proposal as ‘stupid.’ The US president’s swift rejection… has fuelled concerns that ⁠the 10-week-old conflict will drag on, and continue to paralyse shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

“Referring to the latest proposal, Trump said the ceasefire is ‘the weakest right now after reading that piece of garbage they sent us.’… The search for an agreement between the US and Iran has so far proved elusive, with Trump threatening a return to war… Iranian officials have also expressed a lack of trust in the US, which has previously attacked Iran during periods of negotiation.”

Chinese Merchant Ship Attacked

Reuters reported on May 7:

“A Chinese-owned oil products tanker was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday… as President Donald ‌Trump launched a U.S. plan that day to help stranded vessels but suspended ‌it a day later... This was the first time a Chinese oil tanker has been attacked… China remains a key buyer of Iranian oil, which has been targeted by a U.S. blockade in ⁠the Gulf of Oman…

“Due to the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran, hundreds of ships and 20,000 seafarers remain trapped inside the Gulf, with traffic through Hormuz paralysed after renewed attacks on ships this week.”

Why Project Freedom Might Have Been Paused

Breitbart wrote on May 7:

“President Donald Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’ — the plan for American military forces to safely escort commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz — was ‘paused’ after less than 48 hours because Saudi Arabia denied the use of its airbases to protect ships from attacks by Iran… the Saudi government was ‘surprised’ and ‘angered’ when Trump announced Project Freedom with a Truth Social post on Sunday afternoon… [This was denied by the White House, claiming that ‘regional allies were notified in advance’]…

“Another theory about the abrupt suspension of Project Freedom is that Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states were made nervous by the Trump administration’s low-key response to the latest wave of Iranian attacks against the United Arab Emirates…”

The Most Embarrassing U-Turn Yet

The Independent wrote on May 7:

“Not for nothing is Donald Trump known as the ‘TACO’ (Trump Always Chickens Out) President. He announces major decisions and issues dire threats… and then scraps them. But even by his own shameless standards, Trump’s abandonment of his so-called Project Freedom to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is the granddaddy of all TACO somersaults…

“The official White House version is that Project Freedom is being ‘paused’ for ‘a short period of time’ to see if a peace deal with Iran can be reached. ‘Great progress’ has been made towards that end, claimed Trump, without a shred of evidence… A more likely explanation is that he was told that Project Freedom never had a hope of working and was almost guaranteed to make the war much worse, not end it. Experts were near unanimous in warning that it was likely to end the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran and renew the ‘hot war’ between them…

“Sir John Sawers, former head of Britain’s MI6 intelligence agency, said Trump’s latest switch on Iran showed we are ‘living in an Alice in Wonderland world’ whereby the ‘ceasefire is intact as long as the president says it is intact’… Every intelligence agency in the world could have told Trump before he launched the war that it would result in Iran retaliating by blocking the Strait of Hormuz.”

“Trump’s Iran War Boasts SHREDDED”

The Daily Mail wrote on May 7:

“A leaked CIA briefing to the White House concludes that Iran retains significant ballistic missile capabilities, undercutting Donald Trump’s claims that the regime’s stockpile has been wiped out. The regime retains roughly 70 percent of its prewar missile stockpile and 75 percent of its mobile launcher inventory, according to a confidential CIA analysis provided to Trump officials.

“A US official told The Washington Post that Iran has recovered and reopened the vast majority of the underground storage facilities damaged in the opening stages of the war. Sources added that Iran has not only repaired damaged missiles but has also managed to produce new ones…. Intelligence officials found that Iran can withstand the economic toll of Trump’s naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz for at least three to four months.”

DNYUZ added on May 7:

“Citrinowicz, a senior researcher at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies [and] former head of the Iran branch in Israeli military intelligence, said that even if the blockade lasted several months, it would not force the regime to bend to Washington’s demands…

“‘What started as a war supposedly aimed at toppling the regime and dismantling its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities,’ Citrinowicz posted Wednesday on X, ‘may instead leave Iran’s regime stronger than before — empowered by sanctions relief, still retaining significant missile capabilities, continuing support for its proxies, and almost certainly preserving uranium enrichment on its own soil.’”

Why the Iran War Will Not End Any Time Soon

The Ron Paul Institute published on May 8 the following opinion piece by Larry Johnson:

“…someone in the Trump administration who has been briefed on Trump’s upcoming statements about the war in Iran made a financial killing yesterday. This is part of a continuing pattern of deliberate deception by Trump, i.e., pretending there is great progress with talks with Iran, which in turn produces a boost in the US stock market and a decline in the futures price of oil. Here is the reality: There will be no negotiated end to the war with Iran in the next six months because the US narrative and the Iranian narrative cannot be reconciled.

“Let’s start with the US position or narrative… Iran is an irredeemable Islamic terrorist state that is teetering on the edge of collapse. Iran’s political and military leaders are deeply divided. Iran’s economy has no way to recover as long as the war goes on. Iran’s military capabilities have been decimated. Iran must cease enriching uranium and must allow complete, unhindered inspections of its nuclear facilities…

“Iranian leaders are equally firm… Iran will only agree to a negotiated settlement to end the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz [SOH] if Israel agrees to a complete ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza. The Strait of Hormuz will remain under Iran’s control and that they would never relinquish control of the SOH. On May 5, 2026, Iran launched a new body called the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), requiring all ships wishing to cross the Strait of Hormuz to register, fill out forms, and pay a toll before receiving a transit permit. Iran will never give up its supply of enriched uranium and, as a sovereign nation and signatory to the NPT [Non-Proliferation Treaty], will exercise its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. Iran will continue to support the Palestinian people and their quest for freedom and self-rule and will continue to provide assistance to Hezbollah. Finally, Iran will not compromise on its right to build ballistic missiles.

“This… is called an impasse. The US position rests on a number of false assumptions… there is no rift between the political leaders of Iran and the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps]… the President, the Foreign Minister, the Head of the Iranian legislature and the Ayatollah all fought and served with the IRGC during the war with Iraq… Iran’s economy is beginning to revive thanks to support from Russia, China and Pakistan and from the high price of oil… the Iranian navy, air force and ballistic missile, cruise missile and drones are intact and able to continue exchanging blows with the US and Israel.

“Donald Trump faces several dilemmas… The US economy is beginning to falter with growing public anger over the surging price of gasoline. There are no viable military options to effect a regime change in Iran or to compel Iran to agree to US demands. The US supplies of critical weapons systems will be further depleted if the US renews its aerial and missile attacks on Iran…

“The real threat to the US is not military, it is economic. The continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran confronts the world with an unprecedented economic threat. US attempts to block this will only worsen what will become a global economic catastrophe… Iran holds the ultimate trump card… Trump holds none.”

Trump’s Illusion

t-online wrote on May 10:

“One thing is… already clear to most people… Donald Trump has maneuvered himself into a conflict regarding Iran from which, in reality, there can no longer be any politically orderly withdrawal… Trump’s dilemma is now becoming apparent almost daily. For instance, in all those excessive threats to—as a next step—‘wipe Iran off the map’ or ‘obliterate’ an entire ‘civilization.’ What followed almost invariably was: nothing.

“However, the President’s predicament is also evident in his most recent, grotesque post on his platform, ‘Truth Social.’ Following a heavy engagement between Iranian and American forces in the Strait of Hormuz, he wrote: Iranian drones shot down by the U.S. military ‘sank so gracefully into the sea, just like a butterfly falling to its grave.’ Anyone who romanticizes an obviously fragile ceasefire and active combat in such flowery terms has a problem. While… rockets and drones continue to fly, American destroyers come under fire, and Iranian fast attack craft are sunk, Trump feels compelled to trivialize this war. That is why he went so far as to characterize the recent U.S. retaliatory strikes against Iran as a ‘love tap’—a ‘loving little pat’…

“Yet his war—and its devastating consequences—cannot be permanently denied. His approval ratings are hitting new lows. More and more Republicans are attempting to distance themselves from his Iran policy… Trump has maneuvered the United States, Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world into a situation in which almost everyone is affected… All for a war whose strategic objective remains unclear.

“This strategy will collapse the moment an American ship is severely damaged, should there be further U.S. casualties, or if another massive oil-price shock further worsens the daily lives of Americans. That is when Trump’s painstakingly constructed illusion—of a war that is supposedly no longer a war—will come to an end.”

The U.S. Navy’s Submarine Crisis

National Security Journal wrote on May 7:

“The U.S. Navy is currently experiencing a submarine crisis. It needs more submarines than it has at its disposal. America’s naval shipyards are backlogged, understaffed, and lack the capacity to maintain or repair existing submarines, let alone complete new builds in a reliable and affordable manner…

“…diesel-electric submarine technology has advanced considerably since the Navy last employed it. Many European and Asian allied nations employ diesel-electric AIP technology. In fact, AIP-driven diesel-electric submarines have consistently demonstrated an impressive ability to sneak up on US nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, get within firing range during multinational wargames, and simulate sinking them successfully….

“Israel employs German-made, AIP-driven Dolphin-class submarines as part of its nuclear strike capability, too. Of course, the Israelis have never officially acknowledged their possession of a nuclear weapons arsenal. It is, in fact, the worst-kept secret in the Middle East. Many believe that the Israelis have armed their Dolphin-class diesel-electric submarines with nuclear-tipped cruise missiles that serve as a sea-based nuclear strike capability…

“We live in an age where quantity trumps quality, after all. Time is not on the Navy’s side. They must act to plug the sizable gaps America’s broken naval shipyards have created in its nuclear submarine force. Diesel-electric subs cannot do that…”

Blasphemy and Idolatry

Letters from Leo wrote on May 9:

“A 22-foot effigy of Donald Trump, wrapped in gold leaf, now stands at his Doral golf course in Miami. The president boasted about it Thursday morning on Truth Social with the all-caps line: ‘The Real Deal — GOLD.’ Before the unveiling, the figure was blessed. Pastor Mark Burns — Trump’s longtime spiritual adviser and a candidate for Congress in South Carolina’s 3rd District — assembled a circle of evangelical and Jewish clergy at the foot of the gilded statue and consecrated it. What happened at Doral is not unusual; in fact, it is ancient — the modern American repetition of the oldest act of unfaithfulness recorded in scripture.

“… a ceremony like the one Pastor Burns staged is a sin against the living God… The sacred was dragged into filth. A Christian pastor bent religion into the service of a man who calls his own gilded image ‘the real deal,’ and the clergy who should have refused stood beside him while he did it.”

Trump: I Don’t Think About Anybody!

The Huffington Post reported on May 12:

“President Donald Trump  on Tuesday gave his two cents to a reporter who asked to what extent ‘Americans’ financial situations are motivating’ him to strike a deal to end his unpopular Iran war.  His answer? ‘Not even a little bit.’ ‘The only thing that matters when I’m talking about Iran, they can’t have a nuclear weapon,’ he told reporters on the White House lawn. ‘I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody.’…

“Consumer prices have jumped and gas prices have surged by 50% since the start of the conflict in late February, figures that have buried a president who once promised to eradicate inflation (among other economic promises) on day one of his second term.

“His comments arrived on the same day the latest CNN/SSRS poll found 77% of Americans blamed Trump’s policies for increasing the cost of living in their communities. That includes 55% of GOP respondents who pointed the finger at the president for a rise in living expenses. The poll also found that 70% of Americans disapproved of Trump’s handling of the economy, while 79% of respondents disapproved of his handling of gas prices. More than half of Republican disapproved of his handling of prices at the pump (52%), as well.”

Trump went on to insult two female reporters, calling one a “dumb person” after she asked about the controversial White House ballroom project, and another a “stupid person” after she asked about inflation. His habit to insult female reporters is well-known.  He called them “piggy,” “ugly”, a “disgrace,” “horrible,” “stupid and nasty.” Of course, Trump attacks everyone—male or female—who disagrees with him. Incredibly or perhaps predictably, the Pentagon has been defending Trump’s inappropriate outbursts.

Vatican Humiliates Rubio

The Daily Beast wrote on May 7:

“The Vatican did Secretary of State Marco Rubio no favors with its response to his meeting with Pope Leo XIV on Thursday amid deep tensions between the Catholic leader and his boss, President Donald Trump… After the summit on Thursday morning, it was also revealed that the pope was not subtle in his choice of gift for Rubio. The secretary of state gifted Pope Leo, who is from Chicago, a crystal football bearing the State Department seal, while the pontiff gave Rubio a pen made from olive wood. He noted that an olive branch is the symbol of peace…

“The Vatican put out a statement describing the talks as ‘cordial; and insisted the ‘shared commitment to fostering good bilateral relations between the Holy See and the United States of America was reaffirmed.; But the niceties stopped there. ‘There followed an exchange of views regarding the regional and international situation, with particular attention to countries marked by war, political tensions, and difficult humanitarian situations, as well as to the need to work tirelessly in support of peace,’ the Vatican added.”

CubaWarns USA

ABC News wrote on May 8:

“In a sit-down interview with ABC News’ Whit Johnson in Havana on Thursday, [Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno] Rodriguez said he takes Trump’s threats ‘very seriously,’ …. ‘It seems that the U.S. government has chosen a dangerous path, a path that could lead to unimaginable consequences, to humanitarian catastrophe, to a genocide, to the loss of Cuban and young American lives, it could also lead to a bloodbath in Cuba,’ Rodriguez told ABC News in Spanish…  

“Rodriguez maintained Cuba’s independence and said that if attacked militarily, ‘Cuba will exercise its right for its legitimate defense to the very last consequences with massive, mass support of the people.’… Rodriguez told ABC News on Thursday that there has been no progress in the talks with the U.S…”

Tucker Carlson’s Interview Regarding Trump

Die Welt reported on May 7:

“[Tucker] Carlson now levels a grave accusation in an interview with Die Zeit: Trump, he claims, ‘led the U.S. into this war with Iran’—specifically ‘at the behest of the Israeli government.’ In his view, this constituted a betrayal of the United States… ‘The pressure from the Israelis—and from Israeli advocacy groups within the U.S.—as well as from his donors, was simply too great,’ Carlson continued. Trump, he argued, allowed himself to be persuaded, believing that ‘regime change’ in Iran could be ‘brought about just as easily’ as it had been in Venezuela in early January.

“Carlson also recounts how he personally attempted to dissuade Trump from the war with Iran. He says he ‘flew straight to Washington’ and met with the U.S. President in the Oval Office. ‘I spent the entire day with him and have spoken with him many times since then.’ He told Trump… that he was ‘walking into a trap,’ that the U.S. would derive ‘no benefit’ from it, and that Iran posed ‘no threat to the United States.’ Furthermore, he reminded Trump of his promise ‘not to start any new wars’…”

“Trump did not contradict him on this point, Carlson said. ‘He knew it was true’… Carlson describes Trump as a politician who ‘isn’t interested in details’ and ‘doesn’t understand them, either’…

“It is noteworthy whom Carlson explicitly praises in this context: Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz. When Die Zeit asked him about Merz’s criticism… Carlson replied: ‘Absolutely! Merz is absolutely right. There was no plan.’ Trump was furious with anyone who pointed out his mistake to him… Carlson adds: ‘There is a deep humiliation of the United States embedded in all of this…’

“Carlson views the political consequences as far-reaching. The coalition that delivered Trump his victory in 2024—comprising ethnic minorities and the politically disengaged—is ‘history.’ ‘Oh, he completely destroyed it,’ says Carlson, when asked what the war is doing to the MAGA (‘Make America Great Again’) movement. ‘There is such anger among Trump’s voters; I feel it, too.’ For the midterm elections in November, Carlson sees a bleak outlook for the Republicans. ‘I don’t know what they could campaign on to score points. Nothing hurts as much as being betrayed…'”

It has also been reported that in 2025, Charlie Kirk advised Trump repeatedly against attacking Iran.

Epstein’s Suicide Note a Fake?

The Daily Beast wrote on May 9:

“Mark Epstein said he believes the handwritten [“suicide”] note, which was unsealed this week by a federal judge, is a fake designed to prop up the official ruling that his brother died by suicide in his jail cell while awaiting trial in 2019….

“The note remained buried in court records for years before a federal judge unsealed it this week as part of criminal proceedings tied to Nicholas Tartaglione, Epstein’s former cellmate. Tartaglione, a former police officer convicted of murdering four men and burying them on his upstate New York property, claims Jeffrey Epstein left the note inside a book after a suicide attempt in July 2019, weeks before the notorious pedophile was found dead inside New York’s Metropolitan Correctional Center. According to court filings, the note changed hands multiple times between 2019 and 2020 as people attempted to verify its authenticity.

“‘They investigated me for [a] month—FOUND NOTHING!!!’ the alleged note reads. ‘So 15 year old charges resulted. The FBI arrested me for a stack of cash and old headlines. It is a treat to be able to choose one’s time to say goodbye,’ Epstein reportedly wrote. The final line closely resembles phrases Epstein used in previously released emails to friends and family, apparently referencing the 1930s comedy series Little Rascals.

“But his brother argued that detail only deepened his suspicions, claiming anyone attempting to fake the note could have copied language already floating around publicly… Epstein has consistently rejected the official findings and maintains his brother was murdered… He also claimed Jeffrey initially accused Tartaglione of attacking him in jail before later backing away from the allegation because he feared retaliation…”

Newsom Under Attack

The New York Post wrote on May 9:

“California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing accusations of corruption for paying $20 million in taxpayer money to a nonprofit led by an executive who also sits on the board of his wife’s organization that promotes gender equity… The program aims to provide free diapers to newborns through hospitals statewide, but the deal has triggered a wave of scrutiny over how the nonprofit was chosen, and its proximity to Newsom’s political and personal network…

“Despite the criticism, Newsom has promoted ‘Golden State Start’ as a flagship child welfare initiative, calling it ‘a first-in-the-nation program to provide free diapers to all new babies born in California.’”

Trump in China

Newsmax wrote on May 13:

“The Chinese embassy is warning that there are ‘four red lines’ President Donald Trump must not challenge during his meetings this week with Chinese President Xi Jinping… stating that the United States, during Trump’s meetings, must not challenge the ‘Taiwan question,’ China’s record of democracy and human rights, the nation’s path and political system, and ‘China’s developmental right.’…

“The leaders are expected to discuss the Iran war, trade relations, and U.S. arms sales to Taiwan during the talks… The administration is facing bipartisan pressurefrom lawmakers to continue supporting Taiwan militarily despite objections from Beijing…”

Israel’s Government to Collapse

NPR wrote on May 12:

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition may collapse next week, after one of his key ultra-Orthodox coalition partners called for the parliament to be dissolved…

“The political crisis comes after Netanyahu told ultra-Orthodox political leaders that he would not advance legislation to exempt ultra-Orthodox Jewish Israelis from military service… A vote to dissolve the parliament has been called for next week. If parliament dissolves, new elections would be scheduled in three months’ time. By law, Israel must hold new elections by Oct. 27…

“Netanyahu would remain acting prime minister until a new government is formed after elections. He is seeking a new term.”

Now Everything Is Happening Very Fast

Bild Online reported on May 7:

“For months, there was bickering and outcry over the new military service scheme; now, suddenly, everything is moving very fast. Although draft notices have only been sent out since January, the first recruits are already standing in uniform on the barracks grounds! To ensure that willing applicants don’t have a change of heart at the last minute, new recruits are being inducted on a monthly basis. According to the Ministry of Defense, over 200,000 letters have landed in the mailboxes of 18-year-old Germans so far. A good 12,500 new ones are added every week.

“…The Bundeswehr aims to send out 650,000 letters in 2026 alone, with the goal of increasing the number of active-duty personnel over the course of the year from the current 12,700 to 20,000. To achieve this, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is relying on… ‘lightning recruitment’ drives!…

“72 percent of the 18-year-old men contacted by the Bundeswehr so far have completed the questionnaire regarding the new military service; 28 percent, however, have not—despite being legally obligated to do so. In plain terms: More than one in four is ignoring their civic duty! Anyone who fails to complete the questionnaire faces a fine of 250 euros… However, the fine will only be collected if a young man has received multiple reminders and still fails to respond.

“According to the law, fines of up to 1,000 euros would have been possible—however, the ministry led by Boris Pistorius (66, SPD) has set the penalty significantly lower. The men have one month to complete the online questionnaire. Women—who are also being contacted—are not legally obliged to provide information…

“There is a great deal at stake here: The questionnaire assesses both suitability and willingness. Notably, around half of those who responded have signaled an interest in performing the voluntary military service, which lasts at least six months.”

Not Going Well for Merz

Politico wrote on May 12:

“As Friedrich Merz’s popularity plunges to new lows — compounding his already-weak coalition’s troubles little more than a year into office — the chancellor is traveling the country to persuade Germans that things remain on the right track. It’s not going well. Instead, Merz looks like he is only compounding his problems, often appearing out of touch and further alienating some of the very voters he can least afford to lose….

“The chancellor’s failure to connect with voters is one reason a vast majority of Germans — 86 percent — are unhappy with the work of the coalition government… Merz is markedly less popular than even his ill-fated predecessor, Olaf Scholz, was at the same point in his chancellorship….”

Russia’s Medvedev Attacks Germany

Die Welt reported on May 7:

“Russia’s former President Dmitry Medvedev has accused Germany of militarism and revanchist desires over its defeat in the Second World War, and has called into question the Federal Republic’s very right to exist. He argued that no referendum on reunification ever took place, rendering the process legally dubious…

“Furthermore, Medvedev wrote that Berlin had violated the ‘Two Plus Four Treaty’ by opening a maritime tactical headquarters in Rostock. Consequently, he claimed, the treaty governing German unity is invalid…

“Once again, in a text peppered with Nazi comparisons, Medvedev also took direct aim at Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz. He accused the government of driving the German economy into the abyss. Merz apparently fails to recognize that rearmament will not generate economic growth, he wrote—this against the backdrop of a rearmament drive in Russia itself that is unprecedented, with 40 percent of budget revenues currently flowing into the defense and security apparatus.

“Moreover, he accused Berlin of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. In this context, he issued threats of war. He made it clear that even the mere prospect of Germany acquiring nuclear weapons would constitute grounds for war in the Kremlin’s eyes. Furthermore, he wrote that even a conventional war—one fought without nuclear weapons—would end in Germany’s total destruction.

“Medvedev, who served in the Kremlin from 2008 to 2012, was widely regarded during his tenure as a beacon of hope for the liberalization of Russia. However, since the outbreak of the war against Ukraine—ordered by President Vladimir Putin in 2022—he has sought to cast himself as a hardliner. He has repeatedly drawn attention to himself through threats, such as those involving nuclear strikes against Western capitals like Berlin, London, or Paris.”

Romania’s Government Collapses

Politico wrote on May 5:

“Romania’s [pro-European] centrist government collapsed on Tuesday, throwing one of Europe’s most strategically important countries into turmoil at a critical time. Center-right Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, who heads the National Liberal Party, lost a confidence vote in the country’s parliament after only 10 months in office, bringing his short-lived and unpopular attempt to rein in the country’s budget deficit to an abrupt end…

“Bolojan’s defeat was in part masterminded by far right leader George Simion… But Simion’s bid to oust the prime minister only succeeded because his far right Alliance for the Union of Romanians joined forces with the center-left Social Democratic Party (PSD), which quit Bolojan’s coalition government last month…

“Romania is also suffering from soaring inflation and has the EU’s highest budget deficit. If the country does not complete key reforms by August, it risks losing out on around €11 billion in EU funding…”

New Government in Hungary

Deutsche Welle wrote on May 9:

“Conservative ‌Peter Magyar ⁠was ⁠sworn in as Hungary’s new prime minister on ‌Saturday… He has… vowed to repair ties with the EU. Relations between the NATO member and the bloc were strained under Orban, who moved closer to Moscow and opposed EU efforts to support Ukraine against Russia’s invasion…

“One of his first tasks as prime minister will be trying to unblock billions of euros in suspended EU funding to help kickstart the economy. The money was frozen during Orban’s time in office due concerns about rule of law and corruption in Hungary. Also on Saturday, the EU flag was raised on the parliament building in Budapest for the first time since Orban removed it in 2014.”

Putin Threatens Armenia

RBC wrote on May 10:

“Russian leader Vladimir Putin criticized Armenia, warning Yerevan [capital of Armenia] against pursuing European integration without coordination with the Kremlin, according to Russian media. The Kremlin chief claimed that such a policy could lead to a scenario similar to the events in Ukraine in 2014, referring to Russia’s armed invasion….

“‘We are now living through everything that is happening on the Ukrainian track. And where did it begin? With Ukraine joining or attempting to join the EU,’ Putin said, adding that this later led to ‘the coup d’état, the Crimea story, the position of southeastern Ukraine and military actions.’”

Chaos in Britain

Daily Mail wrote on May 8:

“Keir Starmer was fighting for his political survival last night after Labour was thrashed in the local elections.

“MPs, ministers and unions lined up to call on Sir Keir to set out a timetable for his departure following humiliating defeats across England, Scotland and Wales. Nigel Farage hailed a ‘historic’ result last night as Reform smashed through Labour’s Red Wall strongholds in the North and Midlands…

“Sir Keir said he took ‘responsibility’ for the electoral disaster but insisted he would not ‘walk away’. However, furious Labour figures blamed the PM directly…”

Andrew Neil wrote on May 9 in the Daily Mail:

“Just when Britain needs tough and radical leadership, our new system of multi-party mayhem will deliver nothing but instability and paralysing inertia.”

Bringing Back Disgraced Gordon Brown

The Sun wrote on May 9:

“KEIR Starmer has brought Gordon Brown back for a top job as calls grow for the under-fire Prime Minister to quit. Brown, 75, has been appointed as his Special Envoy on Global Finance – more than 16 years since he was ousted from No10 in a landslide General Election defeat in 2010… [He also appointed Harriet Harman, the former Labour deputy leader, as his ‘Adviser on Women and Girls’.]

“The Prime Minister has plunged to historically unpopular levels after 21 months of U-turns, sleaze scandals and policy disasters…. Meanwhile Labour MPs and ministers blasted the appointments as ‘pure gimmick’ and ‘nonsense’ that suggests Sir Keir doesn’t ‘grasp the scale of the challenge’…. The new job announcements came as the chorus of public fury from the Prime Minister’s own MPs is continuing to crescendo today…”

Gordon Brown faced significant political difficulties during his time as UK Prime Minister (2007–2010), including allegations of bullying staff, the infamous “bigot woman” scandal in 2010, [when he slandered a female voter as “a bigot woman,” who had asked him about immigration, causing a major public relations disaster], and criticism over the sale of gold reserves, selling nearly 60% of the UK’s gold reserves between 1999 and 2002 at historically low prices, a move commonly referred to as “Brown’s Bottom”.

A Government in Decline

The Sun wrote on May 9:

“… in this moment of crisis, [PM Keir Starmer] has turned to the man who sold Britain’s gold, crashed the economy and was dumped out of office. Making Gordon Brown ‘global finance envoy’ is another spectacular misjudgment from the most unpopular Prime Minister in living memory.

“Who better to revive a dying government than a former Labour leader overwhelmingly rejected by the British people?… This is a government in decline, clinging to the ghosts of Labour past because it has nothing left to offer the country now…”

Nigel Farage’s Powerful Influence

Politico wrote on May 9:

“The leader of Reform UK would require a political earthquake to achieve a nationalsuccess. Luckily for him, volatile voters keep delivering seismic results. 

“Judged on his own record, Nigel Farage is one of the most prolific political failures in modern British history.  In three of the five elections he has fought over the past 20 years under various party banners, none of his side’s candidates won a single seat — and he finally entered Westminster in 2024 only after failing in seven previous attempts.

“But local elections across England, as well as parliamentary votes in Wales and Scotland, this week confirmed that Farage’s Reform UK party is now an undeniably powerful electoral force. The question is whether he can convert these successes into winning a general election and achieving a national majority in Westminster. POLITICO analysis suggests he has an enormous task ahead in his quest to become prime minister — but not an impossible one.”

Acknowledgement and Disclaimer:

These Current Events are compiled and commented on by Norbert Link. We gratefully acknowledge the many contributions of news articles from our readership. The publication of articles in this section is not to be viewed as an endorsement or approval as to contents or accuracy of the selected articles, but they are published for the purpose of pointing at worldwide developments in the light of biblical end-time prophecy and godly instruction. Our own comments are provided in italics.

Some may wonder why we hold a conference for the ministry. What is the purpose of meeting together?

Before we answer this question, some background history might be helpful.

In July of this year, it will mark the 25th year of existence for the Church of the Eternal God (CEG). While this is a good and impressive milestone, what is most important is that we continue doing the Work of God with fervency and zeal. Many people at the time when CEG was started stated that this organization would not last more than a few months. Yet, by the grace of God, we continue to operate and God continues to help open doors for us to preach the Gospel to the world (Matthew 28:19-20; 16:17-18).

One of the core tenets of CEG found in our Statement of Beliefs is the following:

“The Church’s Commission:

“We believe that it is the Church’s commission to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God to all nations as a witness, to warn all nations, and especially the lost tribes of the house of Israel (mainly in the United States, Great Britain, certain Commonwealth nations and nations in Northwestern Europe) of impending danger, and to feed the flock of Christ – the Church – spiritually and physically.”

As we continue carrying out this commission, it is important that we maintain our focus and approach in doing the Work. In order to do so, we meet monthly in technical meetings over the Internet to discuss various ongoing projects and continually work to keep doing what we are doing, making improvements when needed, but also staying true to our core values that God has entrusted to us.

We have often stated that we are to be growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, which includes remaining steadfast in the Truth that we believe. Quoting again from our Statement of Beliefs:

“The major doctrines of the Church are those, which were taught by Herbert W. Armstrong, derived from the Biblical teachings as followed by God’s faithful servants, and originally established by Jesus Christ through the founding of His Church in the time of His chosen early apostles. Since we are to increase in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, we are committed to review and alter any of our teachings, if and when proven to be wrong by the Bible.”

We continue to follow this principle, and it has served the Church well through the years. People have come and gone, but we continue to hold fast to the Truth and we persevere in preaching it. The Work that we are doing has been given to us by God, and by His grace and strength, we will continue. 

On May 10, 2003, a Q&A was written asking the question: “Does the Church of the Eternal God and its corporate affiliates believe in and practice hierarchical government?”

The Q&A emphasizes that God is not working through independent, self-directed individuals, but through an organized structure under Christ. If God governs His Church through structure, then periodic gathering, instruction, and alignment within that structure are necessary and beneficial. The purpose of the unity is so that we can effectively preach the Gospel and help prepare the way for Jesus Christ’s Second Coming.

Quoting from that Q&A further should help us to understand how the Church operates administratively:

“We in the ministry of the Church of the Eternal God, the Global Church of God in the United Kingdom, and the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship in Canada, discuss things among ourselves, ‘submitting to one another in the fear of God’ (compare Ephesians 5:21). We are convinced, and experience has shown, that if a person is not willing to submit to others ‘in the fear of God,’ such a person will sooner or later cease to be a part of the organization. When we do not reach an agreement on a given point, we place the matter on hold, meditate and pray about it, and come together again for further discussion. When we decide an issue, we do it under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, expecting full consensus, as was the case in Acts 15.”

Unity is a clear theme that runs through the Bible. In order to fulfill our part in God’s Work, we are anxious to maintain unity.

Paul clearly wrote about this in Ephesians 4:1-5: “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism…”

The unity that is shared between God the Father and Christ should be the same unity with which we operate. But Paul doesn’t stop here. There is a reason why unity is so important in his view.

Continuing in Ephesians 4:11–16:

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

In participating in this conference, the ministry is working to do just this. We are working on behalf of the readers and those who are called. We do the Work because we have been called to do so to preach the Gospel as a witness and to help the growth of the entire body, by doing our part!

While the ministry continues to carry out its responsibilities, the membership also has a responsibility to grow spiritually. Together, the Church should be growing and maturing as one unified Body.

Ephesians 2:19-22 states:

“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

We must allow God’s Spirit to be increasing within each of us. The more this happens, the more God can move His plan forward. We are not static; rather, we are created to grow and develop toward the fullness of God’s character and Way of Life.

While unity and spiritual growth are vitally important, another question must also be asked: Why do all this Work?

As mentioned above, preaching the Gospel and all that it entails is the commission given by Christ, and it is the one that we are keen on fulfilling. Christ told us exactly what would happen before His return: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

The world is still standing, Christ has not returned; therefore, our commission is still in full force and effect. Christ plainly tells us that this is what we must be doing to the extent that we can. We read in Mark 16:15: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” He added in Matthew 28:20, ”…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Our job is to watch, warn and exhort! Our StandingWatch YouTube channel does exactly this in commission of Habakkuk 2:1-3. We must not be discouraged by small numbers. (Remember, Elijah thought he was all alone, but God had preserved 7000 in Israel, compare 1 Kings 19:18).

God will bring people into His Work to help as we prepare ourselves. We are seeing growth though, even if it’s not in ways that we always expect. Our video on the Fall and Rise of the Jewish People has now surpassed  2.4 million views. This demonstrates that God continues to open doors for the Work. Each week, we also send out large quantities of booklets to individuals requesting them.

When ancient Israel sinned and went into captivity, people remembered God and turned back to Him. We should recognize that the greatest portion of the Work may still lie ahead of us. We should pray diligently that God will provide additional laborers to help accomplish His Work.

Matthew 9:35-38 tells us: 

“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’”

Christ cared about the people. This should also be a concern for us in such a way that we are dedicated to preaching the Gospel which contains good news to this world. In order to do this, there has to be unity so that we can continue to fulfill the commission of the Church.

One of the key takeaways from our conference is that we gather together to gain strength, encouragement, and greater understanding in how to better accomplish the Work of God. When the early Church met in Acts 15, they came together to seek greater understanding of the Truth. At that time, they discussed the issue of circumcision—a matter considered extremely important by some. Yet the conclusion they reached brought about a significant change for the Church. This aligned with what Peter had previously experienced through the vision he received before baptizing Cornelius and his household. The decision reached in Acts 15 helped open the door of salvation more fully to the Gentiles. It was a major development in the growth of the Church and the expansion of the Work.

As we conclude this year’s ministerial conference, we can move forward and be encouraged in continuing the Work of God. All of us are part of this effort together. Every prayer, comment, contribution, and act of support is deeply appreciated. This is not a one-person work. As Scripture says:

“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12).

We can all continue praying and asking God for wisdom, strength, and open doors to preach the Gospel, while ensuring that we remain aligned with His Will in all things.

In closing, Psalm 90:13–17 provides a beautiful capstone to this Q&A:

“Return, O LORD! How long?
And have compassion on Your servants.
Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy,
That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!
Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us,
The years in which we have seen evil.
Let Your work appear to Your servants,
And Your glory to their children.
And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands.”

Lead Writer: Kalon Mitchell

“Could America Survive a New Major War?” is the title of a new StandingWatch program, presented by Evangelist Norbert Link. Here is the summary:

Why is Donald Trump so reluctant to continue with epic fury his warfare with Iran? The answer is shocking and simple at the same time, and it explains why America is NOT going to survive a prophesied new major war in the near future. 

“Könnte Amerika einen neuen größeren Krieg überleben?“ is the title of a new AufPostenStehen program, presented by Norbert Link. This German program covers the same topics as described above.

We posted last week’s German sermonette from Marc Völler, titled, ”Haben wir den Frieden Jesu Christi?” (“Do We Have the Peace of Jesus Christ?”) 

Last Sabbath’s sermonette presented by Kalon Mitchell, “Give Your Amen Meaning,” is now posted. 

Here is the summary:

The word Amen is used to end a prayer. But is that the only context in which the word has been used throughout the Bible? How should we think about this word when we use it, and does it hold any implications for us today? 

“With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility,” last Sabbath’s sermon presented by Christoph Sperzel, is now posted. 

Here is the summary:

If God gives knowledge and truth to every Christian He calls, He also entrusts them with responsibility. Whoever has received more light and understanding will be judged more strictly by God, for our life is a test and a time of character formation. Therefore, this spiritual principle applies: With great power comes great responsibility.

The ministerial conference will be held this year in California from May 14 to May 15.