It’s An Iranian Deadline Day (Again) & President Trump Reads the Bible – Top 3 Takeaways – April 21st, 2026
Takeaway #1: Today is the day...?
Every war is unique. Each conflict comes with its own set of circumstances. Iran is no different. But what is different in the case of the Iranian war are variables we’ve never truly dealt with before. President Trump, in referring to Iranian officials said this: It’s like they don’t learn. But there’s a question to be raised about whether it’s Iranian mullahs who aren’t learning or if it’s the U.S. that hasn’t learned much. That’s because the United States hasn’t squared off with an enemy who believes the key to victory is effectively bringing about a nuclear World War III. As I stated yesterday, should we really have been so surprised that each time there seemingly is a path end sight to end the current conflict it’s short-lived? These are Iranian terrorists after all who believe in a 12th Imam, aka the well Imam. These Islamic terrorists believe this 12th Imam will exit said well, once the world is washed in blood. That’s their ultimate goal here, and thus any negotiated conclusion they agree to will only be predicated on the belief that it’s the next best step to get them to that place. On Monday the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said this: If the U.S. sends a team to Islamabad, that is a matter that concerns them. The Islamic Republic of Iran does not accept any deadlines or ultimatums to safeguard its national interests. We have clearly stated our red lines from the beginning, and we will not change our principled positions. In none of the stages of current or previous negotiations was the issue of transferring Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles to the U.S. or any other country raised, and fundamentally this option is not on the agenda of the Islamic Republic of Iran. And while the Iranian regime is one of terrorism, deception and lies, what was said there makes sense. Their “principled position” is the whole well-Imam world washed in blood thing. Iran seemingly has been consistent here. At the onset of the war Iran said they would maintain their nuclear program. Two weekends ago, when JD Vance first entered negotiations with Iran mediated by the “fantastic” Pakistani mediator, those talks ended without a deal because Iran's position was that they would continue forward to develop nukes. That’s also no different than what they said yesterday. So now the question is, is today the day? As in is today the day that some type of legitimate agreement takes place, or is it the day before all hell takes place? When Iran’s position remains that of developing nukes and our position is no nukes it remains difficult to see a peaceful ending to this thing but it is something I’ve been praying for everyday and it’s something that’s worth everyone praying for today or else could it be the case that Wednesday is “powerplant” and bridge day”? Yesterday was the second straight day where not a single ship made it through the Strait of Hormuz. Something will need to give. So today will be the day for something to take place (because nothing would be significant)...it’s just not at all clear what that might look like from here. The past seven past weeks have felt like we’ve been stuck between Ground Hog Day and a long road trip that’s left us all wondering...are we there yet?”.
Takeaway #2: America Reads the Bible
President Trump is known for many things. Quoting scripture isn’t exactly one of those things. In fact, when you do think of Trump and scripture what comes to mind (you’re lying if you said anything other than the 2 Corinthians bit from the campaign trail in 2016)? Anyway, after recent events including President Trump repeatedly taking critical aim at the Pope last week prompting the Pope to say this most recently: (The media’s depiction of his commentary)” Has not been accurate in all of its aspects. Imagine that...fake news! The talk that I gave at the Prayer Meeting for Peace a couple of days ago was prepared two weeks ago, well before the president ever commented on myself and on the message of peace that I am promoting. And yet as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate, again, the president, which is not in my interest at all. That statement from the pope prompted this entirely appropriate response from Vice President JD Vance: I am grateful to Pope Leo for saying this. While the media narrative constantly gins up conflict–and yes, real disagreements have happened and will happen–the reality is often much more complicated. Pope Leo preaches the gospel, as he should, and that will inevitably mean he offers his opinions on the moral issues of the day. The President–and the entire administration–work to apply those moral principles in a messy world. He will be in our prayers, and I hope that we'll be in his. With the page having been turned on the past week’s attempted papal polarization, at six this afternoon from the Oval Office we’ll have what’s anticipated to be an unifying event among Christians – participating in a weeklong event known as America Reads The Bible which is led by the nonprofit organization Christians Engaged. President Trump is expected to read from Second Chronicles – which includes a message about humility. Hopefully President Trump not only reads a page or two but aims to apply the message too because in the end we should...
Takeaway #3: Stand with God, not with politics and punditry
The Casting Crowns said it best with their song Only Jesus. Life is complicated; temptations and distractions are everywhere, but what’s supposed to be most important in our lives isn’t. We’re called on to put God first and to follow His message. It’s something that very few people ever attempt to do and of course no one does perfectly. But the saddest thing to me about what took place last week is how quickly many on the right were to serve the interests of the Evil one. Here are a couple of profoundly important questions to ask yourself. I have. If you have Christians (or at least those who identify as such) attempting to turn other Christians away from the largest and oldest denomination of Christianity whose interest is it that you’re serving? Is that what Jesus would want you to do or is that more likely to be what the Devil might want you to do? My other question is this (for what’s hopefully a healthy dose of perspective before the next time that the news media and pundits try to pit Christians against Christians and politicize the pope again)... if the actual goal of this life is to serve the Lord faithfully so that one day we might join him in Heaven, whose message is more likely to lead in that direction? President Trump’s or the Pope? We’re to put our faith in God, not into people and we’re to put God first, not politics first. I’ve commonly seen people attempt to view their faith through the prism of the political ideology (I’m very aware as I’ve spent much of my life having done this too). It’s often easier said than done. My last thought for you is this. With just about everything we say and do we’re serving someone’s interest. If it’s not God’s - than it’s not good. Good on President Trump for reading from the Good Book today. It’s something that would serve us all well today, and every day.