5.21.25 Washington Wednesday, World Tour, and an artist considers God’s creative story

Summary

The World and Everything In It Episode: Washington Wednesday, World Tour, and an Artist Considers God’s Creative Story Release Date: May 21, 2025

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1. Washington Wednesday: President Trump’s Middle East Visit and the Golden Dome Missile Defense Program

Host: Lindsay Mast
Co-host: Nick Icker

The episode opens with President Donald Trump's announcement of the Golden Dome missile defense program, a multi-layered system designed to place U.S. weapons in space for enhanced missile interception capabilities.

• Trump's Vision:
  “Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world and even if they are launched from space.”
  (01:11)

• Financial and Operational Details:
  President Trump stated the system would cost $175 billion and aims to be operational before the end of his term. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the strategic importance, calling it a "game changer for America."
  (01:36)

Congressional Reaction:
The proposal has garnered mixed reactions on Capitol Hill. While some Republicans, like Speaker Mike Johnson, are optimistic, asserting the bill could pass the House floor imminently, others express concerns over the $25 billion down payment requested and the potential for tax revenue losses.

• Trump's Assurance:
  “I think we're going to get it done. Losing patients were ahead of schedule. Anybody that told you that was a liar.”
  (02:31)

International Relations:
Trump's recent Middle East tour, focusing on securing business deals with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, has drawn both praise and criticism. Notably, the U.K. has expressed concerns over Israel’s conduct in its conflict with Hamas, leading to strained relations.

• Qatar’s Influence:
  Analysis by Defense Expert David Adesnik highlights Qatar's dual role in the region—hosting mediations between Hamas and Israel while simultaneously supporting groups like Hezbollah.
  “Qatar has found some very effective ways to buy influence and mute criticism.”
  (10:45)

Controversial Deal:
A significant point of contention is Trump's acceptance of a $400 billion Boeing jet from Qatar intended as a new Air Force One. This gesture has sparked ethical debates in Congress.

• Senatorial Concerns:
  “Every American, every Republican, every supposed national security advocate in the Senate should be outraged by this.”
  (11:54)

• Trump’s Defense:
  “We are going to protect this country. It is a very special place with a special royal family, and they are going to be protected by the United States of America.”
  (10:08)

The episode details the ensuing political backlash, including holds on judicial nominations and demands for transparency regarding Attorney General Pam Bondi’s involvement with Qatar.

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2. World Tour: International News Highlights

Host: Nick Icker
Reporter: Onise Adua

European Elections:

• Romania:
  Mayor Nikosar Dan wins the presidential rerun after allegations of Russian influence led to the annulment of the initial vote. Dan's platform emphasizes closer ties with the European Union and support for Ukraine.
  (15:31)

• Portugal:
  The third election in three years resulted in the Democratic Alliance Party securing the most seats but failing to achieve a majority. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro is now seeking coalition deals to form a minority government.
  (15:31)

Colombia and China’s Belt and Road Initiative:

Colombia has agreed to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative, marking a significant shift in its foreign policy. This move has been met with criticism from the U.S. State Department, which opposes financing projects linked to China in Latin America.

• Petro’s Statement:
  “Colombia has the right to freely choose its partners.”
  (Onise Adua, 16:00)

South Africa’s Granny Pageant:

A heartwarming segment showcases a granny pageant in South Africa, celebrating elderly citizens who often play pivotal roles in raising grandchildren. Contestant Margaret Fatiela, 78, wins the silver crown, highlighting the community’s appreciation for its seniors.
(17:00)

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3. Creativity and Faith: An Illustrator’s Journey

Reporters: Keith Kellogg and Jenny Ruff

This segment delves into the life of Aaron Zenz, an illustrator whose creativity is deeply intertwined with his faith.

• Early Inspirations:
  Zenz recalls his childhood passion for drawing and storytelling, which laid the foundation for his future work.
  (21:18)

• Breaking Through:
  His book, "The Hiccupotamus," gained unexpected traction thanks to Meg Kuta, an enthusiastic bookseller who personally sold over 100 copies, leading to a meaningful friendship rooted in their shared Christian faith.
  (21:54 - 23:19)

• Artistic Process:
  Zenz uses colored pencils in a unique, paint-like manner to create vibrant illustrations, often inspired by Scripture. For example, his depiction of Psalm 23 visually represents trust in the Savior during turmoil.
  (24:21 - 25:43)

• Personal Tragedy and Faith:
  The passing of Meg Kuta due to cancer profoundly impacted Zenz, leading him to reflect on the promise of eternal vision and the enduring nature of faith through his art.
  “I have such a longing for that day when all this stuff that I hold by faith is going to make sense.”
  (26:45 - 27:34)

Zenz emphasizes that his God-given creativity not only enhances his art but also strengthens his friendships and spiritual journey.
(27:08)

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4. Public Policy and Theocracy: Christian Perspectives

Contributor: Craig Carter (Opinion)

Christians advocating for public policies often face accusations of promoting a theocratic agenda. Craig Carter offers insights on distinguishing Christian moral advocacy from theocratic overreach.

• Defining Theocracy:
  “The United States is not and never has been a theocracy, and it is in no danger of becoming one.”
  (28:29)

• Natural Law Advocacy:
  Christians are encouraged to embrace natural law, a concept rooted in classical philosophy, to articulate moral positions that resonate beyond religious rhetoric.
  (28:29)

• Combating Relativism:
  By rejecting cynical views of morality and presenting objective ethical standards, Christians can engage in public discourse without appearing oppressive.
  (28:29)

• Presuppositionalism Caution:
  Carter warns against extreme interpretations that deny non-Christians the ability to understand natural law, advocating for a balanced approach that respects common moral understanding.
  (28:29)

He concludes that advocating for policies like the sanctity of life or recognizing inherent human dignity is not about imposing faith but about upholding universal moral truths.
(28:29)

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5. Closing Thoughts

The episode wraps up with uplifting reflections on creativity inspired by faith and encouragement for Christians to engage thoughtfully in public affairs. Lindsay Mast and Nick Icker preview upcoming stories, including Afghan Christians seeking asylum and personal narratives of overcoming adversity.

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Notable Quotes:

• “Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world and even if they are launched from space.” – Donald Trump (01:11)

• “I think we're going to get it done. Losing patients were ahead of schedule. Anybody that told you that was a liar.” – Donald Trump (02:31)

• “Qatar has found some very effective ways to buy influence and mute criticism.” – David Adesnik (10:45)

• “We are going to protect this country.” – Donald Trump (10:08)

• “I have such a longing for that day when all this stuff that I hold by faith is going to make sense.” – Aaron Zenz (27:34)

• “The United States is not and never has been a theocracy, and it is in no danger of becoming one.” – Craig Carter (28:29)

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the May 21, 2025 episode of "The World and Everything In It," providing listeners with a clear understanding of the major topics covered, including geopolitical developments, creative faith-based narratives, and the interplay between religion and public policy.

Transcript

[Lindsay Mast]

Good morning. Today on Washington Wednesday, President Trump's visit to the Middle East. What does it signal for relations in that region?

[Donald Trump]

This great transformation has not come from Western intervention or giving you lectures on how to govern your own affairs.

[Nick Icker]

Also today, news from around the globe. On world tour. And later, an unexpected friendship helps an illustrator see the big picture.

[God]

God is a creator God. And then very quickly we read, God created us in his image, so we are like him in fundamental ways.

[Lindsay Mast]

It's Wednesday, May 21st. This is the world and everything in it. From listener supported World Radio, I'm Lindsay Mass.

[Nick Icker]

And I'm Nick Icker. Good morning.

[Lindsay Mast]

Time for news. Here's Kent Covington.

[Kent Covington]

President Trump has announced a proposal for a new Golden Dome missile defense program. It would be a multi layered system that for the first time would put US Weapons in space.

[Donald Trump]

Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world and even if they are launched from space.

[Kent Covington]

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said the System would cost $175 billion and that he expects it to be fully operational before the of his term. And Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth added, golden.

[Donald Trump]

Dome for America is game changer.

[Kent Covington]

It's a generational investment in the security.

[God]

Of America and Americans.

[Kent Covington]

The Air Force secretary told senators Tuesday that the Golden Dome overall is still in the conceptual stage. Critics of the plan question the effectiveness of such a system and say the price tag would be a half trillion dollars over 20 years. The President has requested a $25 billion down payment for the Golden Dome to be included in what he's calling his big beautiful bill. That would be one single bill to address his top priorities, including tax cuts, border control and national security. On Capitol Hill Tuesday, President Trump huddled with House Republicans about that legislation, working to convince some holdouts. He later told reporters there was no shouting.

[Donald Trump]

I think it was a meeting of loud.

[Kent Covington]

And he pushed back on a media report that said Trump stated that he was losing patience with Republican lawmakers.

[Donald Trump]

I never used the term. I didn't say losing. I didn't even talk about it. In fact, it's the opposite. I think we're going to get it done. Losing patients were ahead of schedule. Anybody that told you that was a liar.

[Kent Covington]

Speaker Mike Johnson also said the mood was overwhelmingly positive. We're on the verge of making history.

[God]

Here and everybody feels it.

[Kent Covington]

In that room today with President Trump, it was filled with standing ovations and high energy and high excitement. The bill could go to a vote on the House floor as early as this week, but it will first have to advance through the House Rules Committee. Some GOP members insist on steeper cuts to federal programs to offset the cost of trillions of dollars in lost tax revenue. Democrats have criticized proposed Republican led cuts to Medicaid. The president, though, insists the only thing cut for Medicaid would be waste and abuse. Several Western governments are ramping up pressure on Israel over its handling of its war against the Hamas terror. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy says his government is halting free trade negotiations with Israel and hitting Israeli settlers in the west bank with new sanctions.

[David Lammy]

We are unwavering in our commitment to.

[Mona Yakoubian]

Your security and to your future, to.

[David Lammy]

Countering the very real threat from Iran.

[Mona Yakoubian]

The scourge of terrorism and the evils of anti Semitism.

[Kent Covington]

But he said the conduct of the war is damaging the UK's relationship with the Israeli government. But Israel's Minister of Economy and Industry, Nir Barkat said the UK is pointing its finger in the wrong direction.

[David Lammy]

The world should put pressure on Hamas.

[Kent Covington]

Because the minute they drop their weapons.

[Donald Trump]

And bring our hostages, the war is over.

[Kent Covington]

He added that the war against terrorism is not just Israel's fight. Special envoy to Russia and Ukraine retired general Keith Kellogg is weighing in on the Vatican's suggestion that it could host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

[Donald Trump]

The Vatican has had a history of this and I think we're going to end up doing it and I think it'll be good.

[Kent Covington]

President Trump this week talked with Russia's Vladimir Putin in a two plus hour phone call aimed at convincing Putin to re engage in peace talks. Trump said the call went very well and he believes Putin and Russia are prepared to move forward with negotiations. And Kellogg added, I think he's going.

[Donald Trump]

To be reasonable about it. I hope he does. I think there's a glimmer of hope.

[David Lammy]

And I think one thing about President.

[Donald Trump]

Trump, he says let's try to go the last mile to get there.

[Kent Covington]

Ukrainian negotiators held talks with Russian officials in Turkey last week. No peace deal was reached, but the two sides did agree on a prisoner swap. Secretary of State Marco Rubio shared a few fiery exchanges with his former Senate colleagues on Tuesday as he testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a panel he was a member of just a few months earlier. Democratic Senator Tim Keyaine sparred with Rubio about the Trump administration's decision to expedite the approval of refugee Status for roughly 60 white South African farmers, citing concerns over racial discrimination and violence in South Africa. You're not entitled, so can you have.

[God]

A different standard based upon the color of somebody's skin. Would that be acceptable?

[Kent Covington]

Well, I'm not the one arguing that. Apparently you are because you don't know the fact that they're white and that's why they're to say that that would be unacceptable. No, I would say that the United States a very easy. The United States has a right to pick and choose who they allow into the United States, even based on the.

[God]

Color of somebody's skin.

[Kent Covington]

No one's. You're the one that's talking about the color of their skin, not me. These farms were being burned down and they were killed because of the color of their skin. The administration says white farmers in South Africa have been the victims of genocide and faced threats of land expropriation without compensation. Critics of the move accused the administration of showing racial favoritism, and some claim the attacks on South African farmers have been primarily driven by criminal motives rather than racial targeting. Actor George Wendt has died. He was best known for his portrayal of the affable barfly Norm Peterson on the hit 1980s and 90s TV comedy Cheers. He earned six straight Emmy Award nominations for best supporting actor in a comedy series from 1984-89. Wendt enjoyed a long TV career and later built a stage career as well that took him to Broadway. Wendt's family said he died early Tuesday peacefully in his sleep at home. He was 76 years old. I'm Kent Covington. And still ahead, look at President Trump's recent visit to the Middle east, what it could mean for the region. Plus world tour. This is the world and everything in it.

[Lindsay Mast]

It's Wednesday, 21 May. Glad to have you along for today's edition of the World and Everything In It. Good morning, I'm Lindsay Mast.

[Nick Icker]

And I'm Nick Icker. Time now for Washington Wednesday. Commerce, not chaos. That's the name of President Trump's Middle east game. Following a five day trip to the Persian Gulf states last week, the White House promoted the trip as a whirlwind tour of business deals that will bring benefit back to the United States. But critics claim the president is opening himself up to a large scale influence peddling scheme from the nation of Qatar. Here is world Washington bureau reporter Carolina Lumeta.

[Mona Yakoubian]

President Trump is back from his first official state visit, touting billions of dollars of investment deals with Middle Eastern countries.

[Donald Trump]

More importantly, we have hundreds of different big companies pouring into America now creating jobs like we have never seen before.

[Mona Yakoubian]

Last week he signed major deals with Saudi Arabia The United Arab Emirates and Qatar, some of the wealthiest nations in the world. They plan to invest in American technology, industry and arms.

[Keith Kellogg]

And I think it is emblematic of how President Trump views his foreign policy, which is it is very transactional.

[Mona Yakoubian]

Mona Yakoubian is the director of the Middle East Program at the center for Strategic and International Studies. She said Trump's trip contradicts assumptions during his campaign that he would be isolationist and would not interact much on the world stage.

[Keith Kellogg]

It's very much about what deals can we bring back home to the United States, what benefits US prosperity. And in that sense, I think it very much was in line with what it was touted to do.

[Mona Yakoubian]

During his trip, President Trump spoke at several investment forums. He he accused past administrations of holding up international development by forcing Middle Eastern countries to comply with Western standards. He suggested a different approach at the Saudi U.S. investment Forum.

[Donald Trump]

This great transformation has not come from Western interventionists or giving you lectures on how to live and how to govern your own affairs. No, the birth of a modern Middle east has been brought by the people of the region themselves, the people that are right here, the people that have lived here all their lives, developing your own sovereign countries, pursuing your own unique visions, and charting your own destinies.

[Mona Yakoubian]

During his last term, Trump made several deals with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. At the time, though, he accused Qatar of funding terrorism, and he helped Saudi Arabia and the UAE enforce a blockade against it. Now a new alliance has emerged. Trump gave some remarks at a breakfast meeting with business leaders in Doha, the capital.

[Donald Trump]

We are going to protect this country. It is a very special place with a special royal family, and they are going to be protected by the United States of America. And I think we are not going to have to do it because I believe very strongly in peace through strength.

[Mona Yakoubian]

Since Trump's first term, Qatar has become a key mediator between Israel and Hamas. It has heavily invested in the US and paid millions to upgrade the American air base outside Doha. However, it has also sent military aid to Lebanon, some of which has been funneled to the terror group Hezbollah. David Adesnik is director of research at the foundation for Defense of Democracies.

[God]

I think it's more of a symbol of a broader issue, which is that Qatar has found some very effective ways to buy influence and mute criticism of the fact that it very much has one foot on the American side of the fence and one foot firmly on the, you know, Hamas, Iran, Turkey side of the fence.

[Mona Yakoubian]

Since the start of the war in Israel, Qatar has frequently hosted mediations between Hamas and the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Qatar also often hosts Hamas leaders at its luxury hotels. Odesnik worries that Qatar is buying influence in the United States.

[God]

I mean, obviously you saw that, you know, the figures that Trump was touting for potential deals are somewhat astronomical. And when, you know, they hire a huge number of lobbyists, they've funneled huge amounts of money to American universities to establish campuses in Qatar, they have an effective way of buying friends.

[Mona Yakoubian]

Trump also announced last week that the royal family of Qatar was giving the United States a $400 billion Boeing jet to be used as the new Air Force One. That set off a firestorm of criticism in Washington. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut took to the Senate floor.

[Kent Covington]

Every American, every Republican, every supposed national.

[David Lammy]

Security advocate in the Senate should be outraged by this.

[Mona Yakoubian]

The current Air Force One is more than 40 years old, and Boeing currently holds a contract to build a new one and a backup, but it's years behind schedule. The White House insists that the gift does not violate constitutional ethics rules because it is a donation to the Air Force, not specifically the president. If Boeing delivers a new plane by 2028, Trump wants to decommission the Qatar jet after his term ends and store it in a presidential library. Before that, it could cost a billion dollars to retrofit the plane to meet the Air Force's high security standards. And Senate Majority Leader John Thune said there may be national security concerns.

[Kent Covington]

I can assure you there will be plenty of scrutiny of whatever that arrangement might look like. There are lots of lots of issues around that that I think will attract very serious questions if and when it happens.

[Mona Yakoubian]

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has imposed a hold on unanimous consent for Justice Department nominees until Attorney General Pam Bondi answers questions about whether she approved the plain donation. Bondi was formerly a registered foreign agent when she lobbied businesses and lawmakers on behalf of Qatar up until becoming Attorney general. On Monday, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois called for Bondi to testify.

[Donald Trump]

In light of these significant ethical concerns, I've also requested that Attorney General Bondi provide information related to any ethical consultation on her involvement in the Trump administration's consideration of this gift.

[Mona Yakoubian]

While lawmakers have ethical concerns about accepting the plane and cutter's role, Trump says the nation is a new ally, and more importantly, he's done telling Middle Eastern countries how to live. The bottom line is the deal. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt told me that while no country is perfect, Qatar has made improvements and a holdup over human rights records should not be an impediment to deal making. Here's Trump at the Doha meeting.

[Donald Trump]

When you talk about Qatar, the relationship is equal. I mean, it's just like nobody's going to break that relationship. We've never, we have never had a relationship with Qatar as strong as it is now. You know that better than any.

[Mona Yakoubian]

Most Republicans in Congress have mixed feelings about this new partnership. Senator Mark Wayne Mullen of Oklahoma has defended Trump's decision to accept the plane, while Senators Rand Paul and Shelley Moore Capito are wary of any deals with Qatar. Meanwhile, next week Washington will hold a Memorial Day priority parade through the city sponsored by Boeing and the state of Qatar. Reporting for WORLD I'm Carolina Lumeta in Washington.

[Kent Covington]

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[Nick Icker]

Up next on THE WORLD and Everything in IT World tour with our reporter in Nigeria, Onise Adua.

[Onise Adua]

We begin today with election outcomes in Europe. In Romania, Bucharest Mayor Nikosar Dan emerged winner of a presidential rerun. It comes five months after the Constitutional Court annulled an earlier vote and disqualified a far right front runner over allegations of Russian influence. Senior U.S. officials had criticized the canceled vote. Dan campaigned on a pro European Union pathway backing ties with the west, fiscal reform and support for Ukraine. Mihai Vasile joined others on the streets to celebrate the outcome. He says here that the vote represented a choice between staying in the EU or developing closer relations with countries like Russia and other Eastern European nations. And in Portugal, the outcome of its third election in three years was less decisive. The incumbent center right Democratic Alliance Party won the most seats but failed again to secure a parliamentary majority. Party leader and incumbent Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has said he's open to deals with some opposition parties. He says here that the Portuguese are done with elections and want a leader to serve for a four year term. The country's ceremonial president has called the parties together to begin talks of forming another minority government next to Colombia, where authorities have agreed to join China's Belt and Road initiative. The announcement followed a bilateral summit this month between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Colombian President Gustavo Petro. China is Colombia's second largest trading partner after the United States. The State Department has said it would oppose any financing of projects linked to China's Belt and Road initiative in Latin America. Petro said Colombia has the right to freely choose its partners. He says here that he hopes the agreement will pave the way for expanded trade between the countries. More than 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries have already joined the project, which seeks to expand China's global trade and infrastructure links. We end today with a granny pageant in South Africa. Family members gather to watch their elderly loved ones wander walk down the red carpet. As they cheered, contestants wore their colorful Sunday best. 72 year old Joyce Melindi was one of the contestants.

[God]

I feel happy today. It brings my memories back where I came from. It takes me back to my youth days when I was still young, when I still know I was sure of myself.

[Onise Adua]

Nearly 4 in 10 South African children are raised by their grandparents. Bridget Tusi is a mayoral committee member in the city of Ekruhuleni. You know, oftentimes the minute they take pensions, they are forgotten citizens and all they do is look after great grandchildren and grandchildren. So to have programs like this where they are celebrated and to forget their problems that they've got at home, it was really, really an amazing thing to see. 78 year old Margaret Fatiela took home the silver crown and a modest tea set. She told AFP she feels young again and capable of doing everything. That's it for this week's world tour. Reporting for world I'm Onize Odua in Abuja, Nigeria.

[Lindsay Mast]

For centuries, the wife of Shakespeare, Anne Hathaway has been cast as the frumpy older woman he left behind. Some even claim he regretted marrying her. But a fragment of a letter hidden in a 17th century book and rediscovered in a cathedral library is rattling that narrative. Matthew Steggle is a professor at the University of Bristol. The audio from YouTube's France 23.

[God]

So this is the first chink in the wall on that. It's the first piece of paper that puts her in London.

[Lindsay Mast]

In London, where her husband was living at the time. There are inferences to Anne managing her husband's money and mingling in his literary circles. Good historians will savor this opportunity.

[God]

People are going to think about it.

[David Lammy]

People are going to check the evidence.

[God]

Maybe use it as a springboard for further research.

[Lindsay Mast]

So maybe Shakespeare didn't run away from his wife after all. Proving once again it's never too late to question the narrative. It's the world and everything in it. Today is Wednesday, May 21st. This is World Radio. Good morning, I'm Lindsay Mast.

[Nick Icker]

And I'm Nick Icker. Next up, the power of God given creativity.

[Lindsay Mast]

Psalm 24 declares the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein. Or as another translation puts it, the world and everything in it. Speaking of God's ownership of it all.

[Nick Icker]

Well, Genesis speaks of God's creating man in his image. And so he wired us toward creativity and beauty, wonder and truth. Today, world reporter Jenny Ruff will introduce us to an illustrator whose joyful imagination deepened not only his art, but his friendships and his faith.

[Keith Kellogg]

Aaron Zenz was a typical kid. He grew up in the 80s doing typical kid stuff, you know, go out.

[God]

And ride my bike and, you know, play basketball and all those kinds of things. But for me, you know, my greatest joy was, you know, drawing and coming up with characters. For me, drawing and writing was a form of play.

[Keith Kellogg]

One day, Zens jotted down a single stanza rhyming poem in his sketchbook. There was a hippopotamus who hiccuped quite a lot of miss.

[God]

And every time he got a miss, he'd fall upon his bottomus.

[Keith Kellogg]

He kind of liked it, so he held onto it for years. In college, he took a children's literature class. At the end of the course, the.

[God]

Professor said, all right, now that we've been studying children's books all year, how about everybody take a crack at writing one of your own?

[Keith Kellogg]

Zenz used his rhyme to create a draft manuscript about a hippo who can't get rid of the hiccups. As time went on, he'd pull it out and tweak it, drop in a new character or 2. Finally, in 2005, a startup published Zen's book the Hiccupotamus. It had been on store shelves only a few months when Zen saw an email in his inbox. It was from a bookseller in Ohio named Meg Kuta.

[God]

And she said, I'm just going out on a limb here. I really love your book. Most of the time, like, I've been doing this a lot of years. When a new title comes into the store, you can kind of count on maybe over the course of the book's run, selling maybe five copies as normal.

[Keith Kellogg]

Kuta had been hand selling the book to customers. When she sold her 101st copy, she sent the message. Zenz could have responded with a simple thank you, but he went out on a limb too.

[God]

It was a little bit scary. In my reply, I kind of said something to the effect of like, thank you very much for the kind words. I appreciate that. I also just want to take all of that praise and direct it to God who made all of this possible. You know, like, I will forward this to him.

[Keith Kellogg]

You know, Kuta wrote back, oh, my.

[God]

Goodness, you're a Christian. I'm a Christian. Like, that's so neat that you brought that up and that you said that.

[Keith Kellogg]

A friendship was born. On Zen's book tour, their families met and they became close. They prayed for each other over the years. During that time, Zen's family grew to include six kids. He says they inspire his creativity and illustrations. He prefers to use colored pencils, and he uses them in an unusual way, basically like paint.

[God]

I push really, really, really hard on the pencil. I don't like seeing the actual sketchy pencil marks. I try to make the fact that it's a pencil disappear.

[Keith Kellogg]

He's broken a lot of pencil tips. Every time another one snaps off, he drops it in a clear container on his desk.

[God]

There's literally like, Almost, I think, 2,000 pencil tips in here.

[Keith Kellogg]

As of today, zenz has illustrated 45 books. He wrote nine of them. He says the Bible teaches us from the very beginning that we're creative beings.

[God]

God is a creator. God. He made everything that exists. There's nothing that exists without him having made it. That is his nature. That's who he is, is. He's a creator. And then very quickly, we read that God created us in his image. So we are like him in very fundamental ways. And so therefore, we are also creators in a way that nothing else in this world is. You know, giraffes aren't putting on plays for each other. Fish aren't telling stories to each other.

[Keith Kellogg]

Zen uses his art to remember Scripture.

[God]

As I'm doing my own personal devotions for the day, I will look for some truth, and I will draw an image to try to represent that truth rather than just be like, oh, yeah, thanks, God, like, that's a good point, and then move on with your day. It's like, if I'm going to draw an image, that's a timely process. And so my mind is thinking through this in deeper ways.

[Keith Kellogg]

Psalm 23, for example. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me. Zen drew dark, jagged rocks with a narrow path leading down through them. At the bottom, he drew a shepherd figure holding his hand. When he struggles, he brings the picture to mind.

[God]

I'm there like, I'm trusting the Savior. I'm trusting my shepherd.

[Keith Kellogg]

Years after they met, Zen learned Kuta, the bookseller, was sick.

[God]

She had cancer in her eye. In her world, it's like God, family, books, you know, was like the order of the things that were most important to her. And so she's going through all sorts of emotions. She's grieving the loss of her vision. She's, you know, all the questions you have, like why God? Why is this happening?

[Keith Kellogg]

In April 2022, Kuda's husband sent Zen a message. She'd been hospitalized and didn't survive. With a heavy heart, Zenz read the online condolence messages. One said meg can see well now zen's thought of First Corinthians 13. It refers to the fact that presently we can't see things clearly, but one day we will. In his sketch journal, Zenz drew an image of a face divided down the middle. On one side a dark eye, but.

[God]

Then on the other half, her eye, bright blue, shining, glowing. There's shining stars and suns that represent vision. There's things in there that represent sound. It's sad that we've lost her, but there is this promise that it's all going to make sense.

[Keith Kellogg]

Zen says using his God given creativity to tell stories reminds him of God's ultimate story.

[God]

He gives us these visual pictures, word pictures for us to hang on to because he knows we need those things. But it's just like I have such a longing for, like that day when all this stuff that I hold by faith, when I'm going to realize it and I'm going to see it and all these kind of visual word hugs that I get, it's like I'm longing for the real hug.

[Keith Kellogg]

Reporting for World, I'm Jenny Ruff.

[Nick Icker]

Today is Wednesday, May 21st. Good morning. This is the World and everything in it. From Listener Supported World Radio, I'm Nick Iger.

[Lindsay Mast]

And I'm Lindsay Mast. When evangelicals advocate for policies deemed unpopular today, a common critique is that they are being oppressive theocrats. The problem is many Christians have a hard time refuting that world. Opinions contributor Craig Carter has some helpful advice.

[David Lammy]

First, let's be clear about what a theocracy is. A theocracy is a country that is ruled by religious officials. Iran is a theocracy and has been since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. The Islamic Republic of Iran is a country with many of the institutions of parliamentary democracy, such as a president and a legislature, but also a supreme body made up of religious clerics that gives orders to the politicians about public policy. When the Ayatollah Khomeini decrees something, the president and elected legislators fall into line. The United States is not and never has been a theocracy, and it is in no danger of becoming one. The United States is a Christian country, meaning it has been influenced by Christian ideas, Christian morality and Christian public figures since before the Revolutionary War. Historically, its laws have reflected Christian ideals. And even where the nation has grievously erred as intolerance for slavery, it was Christians and their allies who led the charge to eradicate such evils. But how can Christians convince non Christians that accepting moral positions like the sanctity of human life is not creeping theocracy? The problem is compounded by the recent rise of neo Marxist postmodernism, which claims that all moral statements are merely disguised power grabs and that all social relations boil down to coercive power relations. Christians need to do two things. First, we need to reject such a cynical view of reality. And second, we need to clearly articulate a different understanding of the world. We need to recover the idea of natural law, which is rooted in the classical philosophy that shaped the great Protestant confessions of faith in the post Reformation era. There is a natural law that even non Christians can discern by reason. Many contemporary evangelicals have been influenced by Cornelius Van Till and his theory of presuppositionalism. He developed this theory as the basis of his apologetics. Basically, his point was that neutrality with regard to God is impossible and that every person is either in submission to God or in rebellion against God. He called this the antithesis. Given this, Van Till denied that unbelievers can affirm natural law and natural theology. He went so far as to claim that unbelievers cannot know any true facts. Mantill qualified this extreme position in other parts of his writings by admitting that unbelievers can know some things by common grace. The problem is that some evangelicals miss the qualification and stress the idea that non Christians cannot know that, say, murder is wrong by reason and natural law. This plays directly into the hands of the postmodern relativists, who then insist that even the Christians agree with them, that all morality is just window dressing and that all politics is just a power struggle. From their perspective, only a coercive theocracy could impose Christian morality on society. Tragically, a shallow version of presuppositionalism leads many evangelicals to agree with them. To ask the government to pass a law against murder or to adopt pro life and pro family policies is not the same as calling for conversion to personal faith. When we ask everyone to admit that there are only two sexes, we are just asking people to use their reason to recognize reality. Of course we want all people to come to faith, but we distinguish between acknowledging the common morality known from nature by reason and embracing the fullness of Christian faith. If we want to be engaged in the public square without appearing to be a threat to religious freedom, we need a language to speak about public policy in a way other than quoting Bible verses and calling people to convert. Natural law provides a way of doing so. I'm Craig Carter.

[Nick Icker]

Tomorrow, Afghan Christians seek asylum as their temporary protective status expires. And one woman's story of growing up with recovering addicts. That and more tomorrow. I'm Nick Iker.

[Lindsay Mast]

And I'm Lindsay Mast. The world and everything in it comes to you from World Radio. World Mission is biblically objective journalism that informs, educates and inspires. The Bible says, in Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of his will according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time to unite all things in him, things in him, heaven and things on earth. Verses 7 through 10 of Ephesians, chapter 1. Go now in grace and peace.