I want Jesus to walk with me.

I want Jesus to walk with me.

All along my pilgrim journey,

Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

I Want Jesus to Walk With Me (An African American Spiritual)

Trump administration deports Venezuelans despite court order, says judge has no authority

The Trump administration has deported alleged members of a Venezuelan gang from the U.S. despite a court order forbidding it from doing so, saying in an extraordinary statement that a judge did not have the authority to block its actions. The deportation operation followed a move by Judge James Boasberg to block PresidentTrump's use of the Alien Enemies Act's wartime powers to rapidly deport more than 200 alleged members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang that has been linked to kidnapping, extortion and contract killings. "A single judge in a single city cannot direct the movements of an aircraft ... full of foreign alien terrorists who were physically expelled from U.S. soil," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. She said the court had "no lawful basis" and that federal courts generally have no jurisdiction over how a president conducts foreign affairs.

Lord God, we pray for clarity, for information made available to the public, and for decisions made with decisive and logical reasoning. People have the right to due process, and we have judges to balance our branches of government so that the executive nor legislative act out of bounds, and vice versa. God, we pray for the rule of law to guide and direct us, and for your spirit to be infused with all that we do, think, and proclaim.

Doctor at Brown University deported to Lebanon despite US judge's order

A Rhode Island doctor who is an assistant professor at Brown University's medical school has been deported to Lebanon even though a judge had issued an order blocking the U.S. visa holder's immediate removal from the country, according to court papers. The expulsion of Dr. Rasha Alawieh, 34, is set to be the focus of a hearing on Monday before a federal judge in Boston, who on Sunday demanded information on whether U.S. Customs and Border Protection had "willfully" disobeyed his order. U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin said he had received a "detailed and specific" timeline of the events from an attorney working on Alawieh's behalf that raised "serious allegations" about whether his order was violated. The agency has not said why she was removed. But her expulsion came as U.S. President Trump's administration has sought to sharply restrict border crossing and ramp up immigration arrests. A CBP spokesperson, Hilton Beckham, in a statement said migrants bear the burden of establishing admissibility and that the agency's officers "adhere to strict protocols to identify and stop threats." Alawieh, a Lebanese citizen who lives in Providence, was detained on Thursday after arriving at Logan International Airport in Boston after traveling to Lebanon to see relatives. While in Lebanon, the U.S. consulate issued Alawieh an H-1B visa authorizing her entry into the United States to work at Brown University, the lawsuit said. Such visas are reserved for people from other countries who are employed in specialty occupations. Despite that visa, CBP detained her at the airport for reasons her family members have still not been provided, according to the lawsuit, which argued her rights were being violated.

We pray about democracy, Lord, we pray that governments would act with regard the law, for norms, and for decency. We uplift for all those who will act for adherence to the law from our elected officials and political appointees. We pray for Alawieh and her family as they are frightened about what has happened and uncertain about what comes next.

Peruvian farmer goes head to head with German energy giant in climate test case

A landmark climate lawsuit opens in a German court Monday, as a Peruvian farmer sues a German energy giant over the threat to his home from a mountain lake overflowing with glacier meltwater. Saul Luciano Lliuya, 45, lives in Huaraz, a city in Peru's central Ancash region, in the heart of the Peruvian Andes. It lies more than a mile below Palcacocha, a high altitude lake that is brimming with 35 times more water than usual. Peru is home to 70% of the worlds tropical glaciers — but they are disappearing rapidly. Should it burst its banks, Palcacocha's waters would 'likely wipe away Lliuya's home, as well as the homes of an estimated 50,000 other people living in and around Huaraz, potentially with them inside. In response, Lliuya is using a German property law more normally wielded against anti-social neighbors to target RWE, a power company whose coal-powered energy plants make it one of Europe's largest emitters of greenhouse gases. With the support of Germanwatch, a local nonprofit, Lliuya has calculated that since it began operating in 1898, RWE has accounted for 0.47% of all human-generated carbon emissions. Lliuya is therefore asking for 0.47% of the cost, roughly $18,000, of building a dyke that would protect him and Huaraz from a catastrophic breaching of Palcacocha's banks. Although its verdict might not be binding on other jurisdictions, the case does provide a legal template with many other countries, including the United States, having similar property legislation.

Lord God, we pray that those who have harmed our planet, and compromised our ability to meet our needs, pay to address them. The earth holds the score, and so many of our large energy providers, while giving us an ability to achieve remarkable standards of living, have done so at the cost of our planet’s health and future generations. We pray that the judge be fair and impartial, and that Lliuya has their voice heard.  We pray for the saftey of those in Huaraz in the meantime. 

Canada’s Carney meets with European allies as Trump targets his country’s sovereignty and economy

New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday during his first official overseas trip, seeking support from one of Ottawa’s oldest allies as U.S. President Donald Trump attacks Canada’s sovereignty and economy. Macron and Carney did not take journalists’ questions ahead of the talks, a sign the French president might not want to upset President Trump. Macron did not address Trump’s attacks on Canada but noted that tariffs only bring inflation. “In the current international context, we want to be able to develop our most strategic projects with our closest, more loyal partners,” Macron said, adding that “we are stronger together, better able to ensure the respect of our interests, the full exercise of our sovereignty.” Carney was sworn in on Friday. He will next visit Britain, where he will meet with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III, the head of state in Canada. Starmer is also not expected to hold a joint news conference. Carney will also travel to the edge of Canada’s Arctic to reaffirm the country’s security and sovereignty. Since Trump came to office, he has imposed whoppingtariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum and repeatedly commented on turning Canada into the 51st state, infuriating Canadians and sparking a call to boycott U.S. products across the country.

We pray our leaders be endowed with wisdom and insight to make decisions with all Americans, Canadians, and citizens of the world in mind. For cooperation, connections, and mutual understanding, we pray, O Lord.

Becoming (part of) the Answer to our Own Prayers

Resonate: Cohort Central America

Are you interested in a year-long experience being immersed in a new culture and serving with local mission organizations? Cohort Central America offers you the opportunity to serve in one of five host countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, or Honduras. There you'll be placed with a host family and a mission organization where you'll serve in a role that's just right for you. Learn more about Cohort Central America at the upcoming online info meeting on March 10 at 8 PM EST!

Ceremonial Garden at Indigenous Christian Fellowship

In September 2023, ICF dedicated the ceremonial garden, celebrating the transformation of a neglected lot adjacent to its Dewdney Avenue location into a vibrant space for gatherings and healing. Read more