#ourCOG Daily Brief [August 10, 2026]

Good evening, and welcome to #ourCOG Daily Brief for August 10, 2026.

We start with a look at today’s headlines. In the U.S., there’s a significant shift in how Americans engage with civic life, posing challenges for communities nationwide. On a related note, cities like Tulsa are creatively reinventing themselves, joining a trend of offering incentives to attract remote workers, leveraging the post-COVID work landscape. Meanwhile, a lawsuit in Massachusetts alleges school segregation and unequal resources, seventy years after *Brown v. Board of Education*. On a lighter note, new studies suggest classroom pets can significantly benefit students’ social and emotional learning. Politically, Ohio Representative Max Miller is under scrutiny for misconduct allegations, part of a troubling trend seen in Congress from both parties. Globally, Pakistan is grappling with internal unrest, from suicide attacks in Swat Valley to turmoil in Kashmir, all pointing to weaknesses in civilian governance. Europe is also looking to new energy sources, with Cyprus natural gas expected to supply the continent by the first half of 2028, a move driven by the war in Ukraine and Middle East instability. Finally, Iran has issued new demands regarding the Strait of Hormuz, though talks with Oman to manage the vital waterway are ongoing.

Switching gears, our recent video releases include the “Dallas Church of God Livestream,” followed by “Faithful Then/Faithful Now,” featuring the “DCOG praise team.” We also have a special message titled “A Faithful God,” and a sermon from “Pastor Bryan Montgomery.”

From our FaithNews RSS feed, recent updates highlight the “General Council Fights Human Trafficking,” the “Council of Eighteen Chosen by General Council,” and “Ramirez, Charles Nominated for World Missions Posts.” Additionally, details have been released about the “International Educators Lunch Set for General Assembly.”

Turning to prophecy news, we’re hearing intimate details about President Trump’s spiritual practices; his second ex-wife, Marla Maples, revealed that he consistently carries mystical Jewish texts, specifically the Book of Pinchas and the Zohar, for spiritual protection. In other news, a large wildfire in western Canada has prompted the evacuation of over 20,000 people, growing rapidly and threatening towns in British Columbia. This follows President Trump’s recent signing of executive orders aimed at limiting birthright citizenship, adjusting after a Supreme Court ruling. We’re also analyzing his notably muted response to the Hormuz deal, which some suggest indicates a “declare victory and leave” moment.

Finally, in Jewish history, looking back at this day, August 10th, we find several significant events. In 612 BCE, the Assyrian Empire’s capital, Nineveh, was destroyed, and its king, Sinsharishkun, was killed—this being the same Assyria that besieged Jerusalem. Exactly 70 years after the common era, sources indicate the Second Temple was destroyed on this date. Later, in 117 CE, Hadrian began his reign as Roman Emperor. Initially, he appeared to be a friend to the Jews, even promising to rebuild Jerusalem as a Jewish city, but he eventually turned against them, banning circumcision and announcing plans to build a temple to Jupiter in Jerusalem.