5.30.25 Answering questions from journalism students on Culture Friday, a Karate Kid sequel, and a new release of minimalism music

Summary

Summary of "The World and Everything In It" Podcast Episode – May 30, 2025

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Introduction

In the May 30, 2025 episode of The World and Everything In It, hosted by WORLD Radio, listeners are treated to a comprehensive blend of current events, cultural discussions, and insightful reviews. The episode delves into pressing news topics, a student Q&A segment on important societal issues, a critique of the latest installment in the Karate Kid franchise, and an exploration of minimalism in music. Throughout the episode, notable quotes from hosts and guests enrich the narrative, providing depth and perspective.

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News Segment

Anchored by Kent Covington and Benjamin Eicher, the news segment covers significant national and international developments.

1. Federal Appeals Court Reverses Block on President Trump's Tariffs

   • Details: A federal appeals court has temporarily reinstated many of President Trump's tariffs after an initial ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade deemed the tariffs beyond presidential authority.

   • Key Quote:
     John Stonestreet (00:57): “The bottom line is that we are very, very confident that we are going to get this positive result and we're going to win in the end.”

   • Implications: The case is expected to reach the Supreme Court, while Treasury Secretary Scott Besant notes that trading partners are actively negotiating new agreements to avoid the tariffs within the stipulated 90-day pause.

2. Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Ban on Harvard Enrolling International Students

   • Details: U.S. District Judge Allison Burrows issued an injunction preventing the Trump administration from revoking Harvard University's ability to enroll foreign students, citing constitutional concerns.

   • Key Quote:
     John Stonestreet (02:07): “U.S. district Judge Allison Burrows says she intends to issue a broad injunction keeping in place the status quo.”

   • Context: The Department of Homeland Security accused Harvard of fostering an unsafe environment for Jewish students, a claim Harvard vehemently denies and is challenging on multiple legal fronts.

3. Renewed Hope for Ceasefire in Gaza Between Israel and Hamas

   • Details: The White House has submitted a ceasefire proposal to Hamas through special envoy Witkoff, backed by Israel. While Hamas has yet to accept, negotiations continue.

   • Key Quote:
     John Stonestreet (02:52): “And the president submitted a ceasefire proposal.”

4. Elon Musk Steps Down as Head of Department of Government Deficiency (Doge)

   • Details: Elon Musk announced his departure from the Doge, a department focused on eliminating government overspending, corruption, and fraud. His tenure saw significant initiatives but also faced criticism from Democrats.

   • Key Quote:
     John Stonestreet (03:30): “We thank him for his service.”

   • Context: The Doge has been under scrutiny for its aggressive measures, including rooting through federal agencies to curb waste and fraud.

5. Violent Incident at the Capitol Jewish Museum

   • Details: A gunman assassinated two Israeli embassy staffers outside the Capitol Jewish Museum. The suspect, a 31-year-old who was filmed shouting "Free Palestine," has been arrested and faces the death penalty.

   • Key Quote:
     Nick Eicher (04:26): “In these difficult days we have grappled with profound sadness.”

   • Aftermath: The museum is set to reopen, honoring the victims and reflecting on the impact of such violence.

6. House Oversight Committee Investigates President Biden’s Health

   • Details: The committee, led by Chairman James Comer, is probing President Biden’s cognitive health, examining whether White House staff concealed any decline during his term.

   • Key Quote:
     John Stonestreet (05:17): “The authority to do these executive orders and these pardons... the American people have seen up close and personal... Joe Biden wasn't at the top of his game.”

   • Implications: The committee plans to interview former aides and could issue subpoenas if necessary, following concerns that led to Biden dropping out of the presidential race.

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Culture Friday: Student Q&A

Host John Stonestreet engages with questions from journalism students, addressing themes of evangelism, living authentically in a secular world, and internal divisions within pro-life movements.

1. Persuasive Evangelism and Campus Divisions

   • Question: Claire Perkins from East Tennessee State University inquires about handling conflicts between the abolitionist and pro-life movements on campus.

   • John Stonestreet’s Response:
     (09:55): “Be in it for the cause. Don't be in it to be right against this other group. Be in it for the cause of life is worth standing for.”

   • Insight: Stonestreet emphasizes unity in purpose over internal conflicts, advocating for a focus on the overarching goal of abolishing abortion and saving lives through love, compassion, and steadfast commitment.

2. Approaching Individuals Seeking God

   • Question: Jane Aubrey Page from Taylor University seeks advice on supporting a friend who desires to know the Lord but feels disconnected despite efforts in scripture and prayer.

   • John Stonestreet’s Response:
     (12:54): “God has spoken to her in the Bible... the heavens declare the glory of God.”

   • Insight: He encourages recognizing the Bible as God's direct communication and suggests that understanding God's continual dialogue can bridge the gap between expectation and realization.

3. Engaging with an Open-Minded Philosophy Professor

   • Question: Israel Gol from Baldwin Wallace University asks about effectively witnessing to a philosophy professor resistant to belief despite being open to Christ.

   • John Stonestreet’s Response:
     (17:27): “Embracing Christ is not just a matter of ascent to a particular set of beliefs. It is a surrender.”

   • Insight: Stonestreet advises a holistic approach that addresses both intellectual and emotional barriers, highlighting historical figures like C.S. Lewis and emphasizing the necessity of personal surrender alongside philosophical discussions.

4. Articulating Christian Views on Euthanasia

   • Question: Jacob Vanderweid from Montre College seeks strategies to respectfully discuss the Christian stance on euthanasia with dissenting individuals.

   • John Stonestreet’s Response:
     (17:48): “Point out all of those things... Is it right to do this at a time of historic mental complications?”

   • Insight: He underscores the importance of highlighting the ethical implications, real-world consequences observed in other countries, and the alignment with Christian principles of human dignity.

5. Living Out Paul's Statement in a Liberal City

   • Question: Johnny Knight from Cornerstone University asks how to embody Paul's directive to become "all things to all people" in a liberal, non-Christian environment without compromising one's beliefs.

   • John Stonestreet’s Response:
     (21:00): “Stand for truth and don't get... don't participate in lies.”

   • Insight: He advises maintaining personal integrity, protecting vulnerable populations like children, and upholding truth without assimilating to cultural norms that contradict Christian values.

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Cultural Reviews

1. Karate Kid Legends – Colin Garberino’s Review

   • Overview: Colin Garberino critiques the latest Karate Kid film, Karate Kid Legends, expressing disappointment that it fails to capture the essence of the original series.

   • Key Points:

     • The film attempts to merge the legacy of Mr. Miyagi with Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han, aiming to pass the torch to a new generation.
     • The plot centers on a Beijing boy, Li Fang, facing challenges akin to Daniel LaRusso’s but in a different cultural setting.
     • Garberino notes that the film relies heavily on over-the-top martial arts sequences and wirework, detracting from the heartfelt mentorship that defined the originals.
     • The introduction of Ralph Macchio’s character shifts the tone but fails to develop meaningful connections, resulting in a forgettable narrative.

   • Key Quote:
     (25:44): “But this isn't just another warmed over version of the master student story.”

   • Conclusion: While offering nostalgic elements, the film falls short in delivering the emotional depth and simplicity that made the original Karate Kid a classic.

2. Minimalism in Music – Arsenio Orteza’s Exploration

   • Overview: Arsenio Orteza discusses the evolution and reception of minimalism in classical music, focusing on Steve Reich's contributions and the new 27-disc box set.

   • Key Points:

     • Minimalism emerged in the mid-1960s as a counter-movement to the complexity of composers like Anton Webern and Arnold Schoenberg.
     • Despite criticism from traditionalists like Harold C. Schonberg, minimalism gained traction by appealing to a broader audience, intertwining with pop sensibilities.
     • Reich’s works, including Piano Phase and Clapping Music, exemplify the repetitive and phased patterns characteristic of minimalism.
     • The box set highlights Reich’s spiritual journey, integrating Hebrew Psalms and biblical motifs, suggesting a deeper, non-minimalist essence to his later works.
     • Orteza posits that minimalism may bridge the gap between highbrow classical music and mainstream appeal, challenging the notion of it being merely "anti-intellectual."

   • Key Quote:
     Arsenio Orteza (31:17): “What if, instead of a broken link in the evolution of serious music, minimalism is really an unusually experimental kind of pop?”

   • Conclusion: Reich’s collected works showcase minimalism’s enduring influence and its potential to resonate beyond traditional classical boundaries, underscoring its significance in contemporary music.

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Conclusion

The May 30, 2025 episode of The World and Everything In It offers a multifaceted exploration of current events, societal issues, and cultural phenomena. From critical political developments and international tensions to engaging discussions on faith and ethical dilemmas faced by students, the podcast delivers content that is both informative and thought-provoking. Additionally, the cultural reviews provide listeners with nuanced perspectives on both cinematic endeavors and musical trends. The episode exemplifies WORLD Radio’s commitment to delivering "sound journalism grounded in God's Word," ensuring that listeners are both educated and inspired.

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Notable Team Contributions

Special acknowledgments to Caleb Bailey, Hunter Baker, David Bonson, and the entire production team for their dedication in bringing this episode to life.

Support and Donations

Listeners are encouraged to support WORLD Radio by becoming donors, ensuring the continuation of trustworthy and biblically grounded journalism. Visit wng.org/newdonor before midnight to take advantage of the matching gift opportunity.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and notable quotes from the episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who have not listened.

Transcript

[Mary Reichard]

Good morning. Today on Culture Friday, John Stonestreet takes student questions on persuasive evangelism, living truthfully in a post Christian world, and divisions among campus pro lifers.

[Nick Eicher]

Also today, World Arts and Culture editor Colin Garberino reviews a hard hitting martial arts sequel that doesn't quite live up to the original.

[John Stonestreet]

What happened to two branches, one shriek, one branch stronger than the other.

[Nick Eicher]

And world World music critic Arsenio Ortezza takes us inside the world of a composer who helped to make minimalism Mainstream.

[Mary Reichard]

It's Friday, May 30th. This is the world and everything in it from listener supported World Radio. I'm Mary Reichert.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Good morning.

[Mary Reichard]

Now News. Here's Kent Covington.

[Kent Covington]

A federal appeals court has reversed a block on many of President Trump's tariffs, at least for now. The U.S. court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a stay on a ruling earlier this week from the US Court of International Trade. That earlier decision said the president had exceeded his authority. Director of the White House National Economic Council, Kevin Hassett.

[John Stonestreet]

The bottom line is that we are.

[Nick Eicher]

Very, very confident that we are going to get this positive result and we're.

[John Stonestreet]

Even more confident that we're going to.

[Nick Eicher]

Win in the end.

[Kent Covington]

The matter is likely to be ultimately decided by the Supreme Court. In the meantime, Treasury Secretary Scott Besant says trading partners are still looking to make new trade agreements to avoid the tariffs.

[John Stonestreet]

They are coming to us in good faith and trying to complete the deals before the 90 day pause ends.

[Kent Covington]

President Trump announced a 90 day pause on reciprocal tariffs last month to give trading partners time to negotiate new deals. Meantime, a federal judge in Boston is blocking the Trump administration's effort to bar Harvard University from enrolling international students. World's Benjamin Eicher reports.

[John Stonestreet]

U.S. district Judge Allison Burrows says she intends to issue a broad injunction keeping in place the status quo. She has already put a temporary order in place stopping the government from revoking Harvard's ability to enroll foreign students. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem says the Ivy League school has allowed foreign students to create an unsafe environment environment for Jewish students. But Harvard says the Trump administration's move is unconstitutional. Harvard is challenging the Trump administration on multiple legal fronts, including a separate case over the freezing of federal grants and other funding for World I'm Benjamin Eicher.

[Kent Covington]

The White House says there is renewed hope for a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt.

[Nick Eicher]

I can confirm that special envoy Witkoff.

[John Stonestreet]

And the president submitted a ceasefire proposal.

[Nick Eicher]

To Hamas that Israel backed and supported.

[John Stonestreet]

Israel signed off on this proposal before.

[Nick Eicher]

It was sent to Hamas.

[Kent Covington]

Levitt says the Hamas terror group has not accepted the proposal yet, but the talks are still ongoing. Hamas says it is studying the latest proposal that comes after Israel this week announced that it had killed senior Hamas leader Mohamed Sinwar in a strike earlier this month, Caroline Levitt also reacted to news that Elon Musk is leaving his role with the Trump administration as the head of the Department of Government Deficiency, or Doge.

[John Stonestreet]

We thank him for his service. We thank him for getting Doge off.

[Nick Eicher]

Of the ground and the efforts to.

[John Stonestreet]

Cut waste, fraud and abuse will continue.

[Kent Covington]

Musk has been the public face of Doge since the president established the office in January. The department has since rooted through federal government agencies in a quest to identify and end government overspending, corruption and fraud. But Musk and the agency have come under heavy criticism from Democrats, who have called resulting cuts reckless and destructive. Special government employees are only permitted to work up to 130 days and a 12 month period. Just over a week after a gunman killed two Israeli embassy staffers in front of a museum in Washington, that museum is reopening to the public. Officials with the Capitol Jewish Museum held an event Thursday to mark the occasion and to honor the victims. Board Chairman Chris Wolf in these difficult.

[Nick Eicher]

Days we have grappled with profound sadness.

[Kent Covington]

And search for meaning in the face.

[Nick Eicher]

Of such reckless violence.

[Kent Covington]

The 31 year old suspect is behind bars. He was allegedly caught on video shouting Free Palestine as he was arrested. Attorney General Pam Bondi said prosecutors will seek the death penalty against the accused shooter. The House Oversight Committee wants answers about former President Biden's health during his time in office. Chairman James Comer says lawmakers need to know whether some in the White House took part in hiding Biden's cognitive decline.

[John Stonestreet]

We're going to start with the with the low level staffers, the unnamed staffers that nobody ever heard of prior to my my request to come in before.

[Kent Covington]

The committee, he said. The panel also wants to know if anyone other than the president was pulling the strings on orders that bore Biden's auto pen signature.

[Nick Eicher]

We want to know who actually gave.

[John Stonestreet]

The authority to do these executive orders and these pardons because again, I think the American people have seen up close and personal, especially during that debate with Donald Trump, that Joe Biden wasn't at the top of his game.

[Kent Covington]

Weeks after Biden's last debate against Donald Trump last summer, the incumbent president dropped out of the race over concerns about his mental fitness. Comer has Asked to speak with several former Biden aides and his longtime physician, Dr. Kevin O' Connor. The panel wants to begin interviewing former Biden staffers next week. The committee could issue subpoenas if they do not appear. I'm Kent Covington. And straight ahead, John Stonestreet answers more questions from journalism students, plus a review of the latest Karate Kid movie. This is the World and Everything in it.

[Mary Reichard]

It's Friday, the 30th of May. Glad to have you along for today's edition of the World and Everything In It. Good morning. I'm Mary Reichert.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Eicher. Up in Northwest Iowa, the final day of the 2025 World Journalism Institute collegiate course hosted by Dort University. Well, listen to that. Nothing says almost done like smoke in your hair and a song in the air. Students gathering around the bonfire at the end of the day as they close in on their final projects have to say it has been a couple of great weeks and that's typical. And I've said it before, I always come away from WJI feeling really optimistic, getting to meet these smart young people who sincerely want to honor the Lord in their work and speaking. Speaking of work, I do want to thank you for supporting our work during this new donor drive. It's the last day for WJI and the last day for our new donor drive.

[Mary Reichard]

Yeah. So a quick word on the importance of that. World is a nonprofit and more than half our revenue is from listeners and readers like you who believe in what we're doing. Listeners and readers convinced that continuing this work is a priority. But, you know, compared to the number of listeners we reach with this program each month, only a relatively small fraction actually help support it. Thus the emphasis on encouraging new donors to join in with the thousands of faithful donors who power this mission on a regular basis.

[Nick Eicher]

So on this final day, if you've benefited from World and you've thought about it but never quite made the leap, let me encourage you to make this the day that you do. Now, the matching gift is there for two primary reasons. One of them is practical and that's to double your impact. But the other is motivational to demonstrate that giving to Support World is a team sport that no one gives alone. No single person carries this effort. And those providing the match just wanted you to know that.

[Mary Reichard]

That's right. So would you visit wng.org newdonor we're all deadline driven around here, and this is the deadline midnight tonight. So I really hope you'll not let the day go by without casting a vote in favor of this journalistic project.

[Nick Eicher]

Wng.orgnewdonor and thank you for making trustworthy, biblically grounded journalism possible. Well, it's Culture Friday Student Edition Round 2. John Stonestreet joins us now. John, of course, is president of the Colson center and host of the Breakpoint podcast. Good morning, John.

[John Stonestreet]

Good morning.

[Nick Eicher]

All right, let's get to the questions, John. We've got quite a few.

[John Stonestreet]

Hi, Mr. Stonestree. I'm Claire Perkins. I'm from East Tennessee State University.

[Nick Eicher]

And I was wondering how I should biblically approach the conflict between the abolitionist.

[John Stonestreet]

Movement and the pro life movement on my campus. There is a pretty harsh conflict between the two groups.

[Nick Eicher]

And as vice president of the Students for Life group, I'm struggling to handle that conflict with both grace and truth, as these are fellow believers.

[John Stonestreet]

Yeah, what a great question, and thanks for your leadership of that wonderful group. The Students for Life organization is just one of the bright spots for a lot of us looking at young people and all of us old people look at young people and think they're the ones that are ruining the world, but it really was us, and you guys have a lot of hope. So let me just say that.

[Nick Eicher]

No kidding. Guilty.

[John Stonestreet]

Guilty. Yeah, exactly. But somebody did it to us first, I guess Nick. But listen, this is a tragic conflict, and it's something that is happening across the pro life movement where there is a lot of division, which is really a shame because we really need all hands on deck. Everyone shares the same goal, which is the abolition of abortion, saving as many lives as possible. Changing hearts and minds is incredibly important work. Doing it with people who do not have the ethical, moral, or worldview framework. To think like you do about life requires that sometimes we shock, sometimes we argue, always we love and love in particular ways, and sometimes we show compassion. And I think that the. To a hammer, everything looks like a nail. And that kind of describes some activist on these movements where they want everyone to do it exactly like they are. Let me just tell you right now, be in it for the cause. Don't be in it to be right against this other group. Be in it for the cause. The cause of life is worth standing for. And you keep your focus the way that Nehemiah and those who are working on the wall kept their focus against the critics. It's like, you can call me dumb, you can call me an idiot all you want, you know, but I've got important work to do. So I'm going to keep doing this work and that work is going to bear fruit. I'll give you an example of this that seemed very innocuous in the history of the pro life movement for years, but has proven to have one of the most significant impacts in saving actual lives. You see, what happened was when Roe v. Wade was pushed forward, the argument was often like, we have to have abortion because who's going to take care of these women and children? And what happened in the wake of Roe v. Wade was that in every town in America, people stood up and said, yeah, I'll take care of these women, I'll take care of these children. And they organized and they opened places where these people can come. Now, were laws passed because they showed up? No. Would laws have been passed if they hadn't shown up? No. See, that's the thing, is that we need all hands on deck, hitting it at every level that we can. And so stay at the work, do the right thing, smile and don't respond to the criticism.

[Mary Reichard]

Hi John, my name is Jane Aubrey Page.

[John Stonestreet]

I'm a student at Taylor University and.

[Mary Reichard]

I had a conversation with a friend just about her wanting to know the Lord. She has the desire, but she doesn't know how to muster that desire within herself and she doesn't think she can. Yet she feels like the Lord isn't reaching back out to her, if that makes sense.

[John Stonestreet]

So what would you tell someone who is trying to get to know God.

[Mary Reichard]

By reading scripture and praying but doesn't.

[John Stonestreet]

Feel like he's revealing himself to that person?

[Mary Reichard]

What would you say?

[John Stonestreet]

Yeah, it's really hard when these kind of questions come. I always wish there was a one liner. If you say this, it'll change their hearts and minds, but that's not how this sort of thing work. But I will point out something that this person is only expecting the Lord to speak to her. I guess I'm assuming in some kind of voice or something. Through prayer and through Bible reading. What we know is that God has spoken to her in the Bible, but it's right there. In other words, the Bible itself is the word of God. It's not a vehicle for the Word of God like the mid 20th century neoliberals taught. It actually is the Word of God. So when Proverbs says a soft answer turns away wrath, that's God speaking to her, telling her a soft answer turns away wrath. When John says, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. So that whoever can believe God is saying that if she believes, she will have eternal life. And I'll also point out that that Same Bible, which is God's word. Actually, God's language to her, to your friend, is also saying that the heavens declare the glory of God. It's more like a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, who said, the earth is crammed full of heaven and every bush is on fire with God, but only those who look will take off their shoes. In other words, God's talking all the time. And it has to do with whether we are willing to hear what he has said instead of forcing what we think he should have said or how he should have said it.

[Nick Eicher]

So this one is on the same theme.

[John Stonestreet]

John My name is Israel Gol and I go to Baldwin Wallace University. I know a philosophy professor who seems open to Christ, but his worldly philosophy is keeping him from believing. I have given him some Christian philosophical arguments, and he recognizes that some of them, you know, they have some weight to them, but he's still, there's something in his heart or in his mind that's keeping him from believing. And I'm wondering, is more Christian philosophical arguments, is that the way to go, or is there an other way to work around his mental blockade and continue to witness to him? Well, I think the answer is yes. It's not one thing, it's all of those things. And good for you for being willing to talk and to have those conversations. And you're going to find yourself probably in moments over your kind of philosophical head and your willingness to acknowledge that and to say, you know, let me go study. It's going to make you better, it's going to make you sharper, it's going to introduce you to a wonderful richness of Christian thought. The whole thing reminds me of C.S. lewis, you know, who had become intellectually convinced for a while, but then when he talks about his conversion, talks about like, oh, this means an awful lot, like, this requires me to give up this and to stop doing this. And you might remember that Lewis called himself the grumpiest convert in all of Britain because he knew what it required of him. And that's what Romans 1 says. So you're never dealing with just a brain that cannot embrace the arguments for God. You're dealing with a heart and a mind, a life, a set of relationships that have been impacted by selfishness and sin and so on. And those things put up barriers that are pretty significant. So the answer is you need to do all those things. You need to show up. You need to be willing to hear and listen. There are some wonderful philosophical things you can appeal to. For example, some of the stories of guys like Lewis. I think of Anthony Flew who didn't fully convert before he died, but his last book, this is the most prominent atheist philosopher of the 20th century who wrote his last book was called There Is a God and he let nt Wright write the epilogue to his book about the evidence for the resurrection. And the evidence for the resurrection is not the same as the traditional kind of proofs for God's existence. But it's a really interesting thing because you have to reckon with if you take things at face value. God has left himself a very strong case that he raised Jesus from the dead. And that requires a response. And that's what you need to understand. Embracing Christ is not just a matter of ascent to a particular set of beliefs. It is a surrender. And you know, another person you might look at as a high profile conversion who talks a little bit about this, although it's brand new, is Ayan Hersi Ali, a political philosopher. But she talks about that surrender aspect being a part of this as well. So God bless you and sharing Christ with your Prof. That's really wonderful stuff.

[Kent Covington]

Hi John, my name is Jacob Vanderweid and I'm from Montre College. Recently I've been thinking a lot about the Christian view on euthanasia. The Bible seems to have a good degree of clarity on it. I was wondering how we can articulate our opinions on euthanasia with people who might disagree with us in a way that is respectful and honors God.

[John Stonestreet]

Yeah, listen, I think that there are very clear statements about human dignity and the implications of those have been brought out in theology. So I think you're right on that. But remember, if something is true, it aligns with the way the world is. And I think that there are a number of things that can be pointed to, at least in terms of preventing this policy from moving forward. And I think your best case right now is to point north. Canada instituted medical assistance in dying and all the slippery slope stuff we talked about with euthanasia. When it comes to Belgium and Netherlands, apparently Canada slope is straight up and down and is greased with Crisco because it has been unbelievable how quickly the so called right to die becomes the so called duty to die and the expectation to die and the expectation to participate in someone else's death. So what you're seeing there is a whole kind of collapse of freedom. And that collapse happens because these words, and this is another thing I think we can point to, you can point to that as a real life case study and then point to what's behind it. What do these words mean? What is the right to die? What is unworthy life? How is that different than what the Nazis talked about in terms of unworthy eaters or life unworthy of life, as they put it. If we sanitize it, does that make it any different? And how is it that this grants additional freedom without putting the financial pressure on people? That's what you're also seeing too. An incredible amount of financial pressure. And by the way, is it right to do this at a time of historic mental complications, mental illnesses, comorbidities? In other words, we're not talking about people who are in the right state of mind to begin with a lot of times. And so I think we need to point out all of those things. And at the very least on a policy level they equal pause. Interestingly enough, I think you haven't seen the big push in the United States towards doctor assisted suicide or euthanasia since Canada. And I think it's because we're worried we're getting on that same path because we will. Hey, John. My name is Johnny Knight. I recently graduated from Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I'm currently living in Twin Cities, Minnesota. And my question is, how do we live out Paul's statement that he has become all things to all people in order that we might save some? I live in a very liberal immoral city with lots of people living non Christian immoral lives. How do I become all things to them in order to save them without affirming what they're doing? Well, that is the challenge of living in a pagan society. So welcome to the club. You know Joni, this is kind of where all Christians have found themselves to various degrees. Let me hit a couple things. Number one is be aware of your own proclivities to sin. I say that because we have, as Chuck Olson said, an infinite capacity to self rationalize. In other words, we'll use I want to be a minister to others as an excuse to. To indulge the temptations we kept protected and hidden on the side. The Puritan writers talked about this. So just know that we're going to be highly susceptible to use that as an excuse to sin. That's Romans 1. But the second thing I think we can do is look back on church history. And I will say this, that anytime that the church has found itself in a tough pagan cultural context, which has been most of the time, it's always seemed to to lead to the protection and defense of children. I think that's where we're at now. That's hard, like all things to all men. What does that mean? We should never sacrifice individuals on the altar of quote, unquote humanity or culture. And the unique value of every single life, particularly children, means we have to be all things for them so that they're not victimized by a culture that will dehumanize them either through making them hate who they are, lead them through mutilation in the name of kind of quote unquote medical care or something like that. So I think it's going to always be the protection of children. And I think that's the moment we're in. I think we see that across the board. The final thing I'll say is stand for truth and don't get, as Alexander Solzhenitsyn said, don't participate in lies. So a clear line between being all things to all men and doing it in a way that crosses the other clear instructions that Scripture gives is don't participate in lies. You know, it doesn't mean you have to fight every fight, doesn't mean you have to protest every protest, but don't participate in lies. Lies about who people are, lies about what's right and wrong, lies about the categories of reality. So those are three things I think that we, we can maybe take and apply to this.

[Nick Eicher]

Excellent, John, that was terrific. And I'm so grateful to you for even taking a pause from your national conference to answer these questions. So from one conference to a journalism institute, you've been a busy man. So I appreciate you making time for the students and I know they do too. John Stonestreet, the president of the Colson center and host of the Breakpoint Podcast. Thanks again, John.

[John Stonestreet]

Well, thank you. These were great questions.

[Kent Covington]

Additional Support comes from biblestock.org Helping Bible teachers bring the land of the Bible to life through photos and videos. Biblestock.org.

[Nick Eicher]

Today is Friday, May 30th. Thank you for turning to World Radio to help start your day. Good morning, I'm Nick Iger.

[Mary Reichard]

And I'm Mary Reichard. Coming next on the World and everything in it, a 41 year old franchise returns to the theaters. It's been quite a year for the Karate Kid franchise. The final season of the popular Netflix series Cobra Kai wrapped up back in February.

[Nick Eicher]

And now we have a new feature length film picking up the story 15 years after the last movie was released. Here is arts and culture editor Colin Garberino on the Karate Kid Legends.

[Colin Garbarino]

Karate Kid fans might be tempted to start practicing their crane kicks this weekend because the franchise has a new movie arriving in theaters between 1984 and 1994, Pat Morita played Mr. Miyagi, a soft spoken karate sensei in four Karate Kid films. In the first three movies, he trains Ralph Macchio's Daniel LaRusso. In the fourth, Hilary Swank's Julie Pierce. But it's best not to think too much about that fourth movie. Then in 2010, there was a Miyagi less remake starring Jackie Chan as a kung fu master named Mr. Han. The newest film merges the Miyagi legacy with Mr. Han's in what looks like an attempt to pass the theatrical torch to a new generation.

[John Stonestreet]

I did not come looking for Shinsei Miyake. I came looking for you.

[Colin Garbarino]

The Karate Kid legends begins with some nostalgic continuity. In a flashback to the second movie, Mr. Miyagi and Daniel discuss the origins of karate. A voiceover tries to bridge the gap between the original movies and the remake. The real story begins when a Beijing boy named Li Fang, played by Ben Wang, moves to New York City. He's got some of the same problems Daniel had in the original movie, albeit he's a Chinese boy in Little Italy rather than an Italian boy in California. Lee has trouble fitting in at school. He likes a girl whose ex boyfriend is a bully. The solution to these problems? Entering and winning a karate tournament.

[John Stonestreet]

I'm doing this for all of us, but whatever it takes.

[Colin Garbarino]

Lee's old kung fu teacher, Mr. Han, realizes that his student will only have a shot at winning the tournament if he augments his exuberant kung fu skills with some uncomplicated Miyagi style karate. So Mr. Han flies to California to get some help from Mr. Miyagi's best student. I can't.

[John Stonestreet]

You can. You're not listening to me.

[Kent Covington]

I'm not coming to New York.

[John Stonestreet]

I see you in the Big Apple.

[Colin Garbarino]

But this isn't just another warmed over version of the master student story. Lee has a past that haunts him. But he only ends up in trouble because he's trying to help some friends in need. On the whole, he seems like a fairly well adjusted kid who doesn't need the same level of mentoring Daniel did back in the 80s.

[John Stonestreet]

Lee means to me what you meant to Sensei Miyake.

[Colin Garbarino]

The Karate Kid Legends contains depictions of Eastern spiritualism and it's rated PG13 for some bad language and martial arts action. But to be fair, the PG rated original film had more course material than this one does. And while this story might be set in the Karate Kid universe, it has all the hallmarks of a Jackie Chan kung Fu film. Pat Morita's Mr. Miyagi had a wry sense of humor, but Chan plays the role of Mr. Han with his typical broad comedic approach. Most of the fight scenes use over the top wirework rather than the more straightforward karate we saw back in 1984.

[John Stonestreet]

Yamazuki punching block, Stronger bass windmill block, more dynamic.

[Colin Garbarino]

Though the Karate Kid Legends offers a certain nostalgic appeal, it's not destined to be a classic. At only 94 minutes, the film keeps the story moving, but the central conflict needs a rewrite. Lee's new friends in New York City find themselves in trouble with a loan shark who also happens to own a karate dojo. The film spends so much time on the loan shark bit that it fails to develop the personal animosity between Lee and his karate rival. Also, don't expect much Ralph Macchio in this movie. He only shows up in the last 30 minutes.

[John Stonestreet]

Everything is a kung fu. Yeah. Well, no. What happened to two branches?

[Nick Eicher]

One tree.

[John Stonestreet]

One branch stronger than the other.

[Colin Garbarino]

Once Macchio enters the picture, the tone shifts and the movie starts to focus on the relationship between Daniel and Mr. Han. And their humorous attempts to get Lee ready for a tournament. And having two teachers with different styles ends up confusing the poor Lee. The high flying Hong Kong style martial arts and wirework are competently executed, but there's nothing here we haven't seen before. One of the reasons the original Karate Kid became a classic was that the martial arts action remained simple and straightforward, allowing the audience to identify more closely with Daniel's emotional journey. This update has its humorous moments, but no one's going to attempt the outrageous leaping spinning slide that Mr. Han and Daniel concoct as Lee's secret weapon. And in fact, few people will remember this story at all. We're a far cry from 1984 when kids everywhere, including me, were perfecting their crane kicks. I'm Colin Garbarino.

[John Stonestreet]

In fact, it was a little bit frightening.

[Mary Reichard]

Today is Friday, May 30th. Good morning, this is the world and everything in it. From listener supported world radio, I'm Mary Reichard.

[Nick Eicher]

And I'm Nick Iker. Next up, an ear opening and eye opening 27 disc box set. Early minimalist composers took lots of heat from classical music critics and purists. But world's music critic Arsenio Orteza says maybe minimalism isn't all that highbrow after all. Maybe it's just pop music in disguise.

[Arsenio Orteza]

Classical music critics aren't usually known for their sense of humor, but it's hard not to laugh when reading the late Harold C. Schonberg's takedown of the classical subgenre known as minimalism. He called minimalism, which emerged in the mid-1960s as a reaction against the complexity of Anton Weben and Arnold Schonberg, a kind of baby music. He wrote that one could listen to this flow of sequential patterns with no intellectual strain at all. He went on to call it anti intellectual and compared it to floating in an amniotic sea of sound. He concluded that all it seems to demand is stamina on the part of the listener. Schonberg may very well have had something like this piece in mind. This is a composition called Piano Phase by the minimalist pioneer Steve Reich. Schonberg may have had a point about stamina. The piece goes on for over 20 minutes. It's on the first of 27 discs in the new box of Reich's work on Nonesuch Records, Collected works. Some of what it collects is even more minimal. There is, for instance, clapping music.

[John Stonestreet]

In.

[Arsenio Orteza]

Case you can't tell. Well, it's made up of two performers who repeatedly clap a pattern of 12 8th notes over nearly five minutes. They slowly go out of phase with each other, then slowly come back into phase. But despite the radical simplicity of this approach, minimalism took root in the classical music community, making that community seem experimental, edgy and cool. It also gave listeners who never thought that they'd like traditional music reasons to explore the classical sections of record stores. In other words, Harold Schoenberg's criticisms notwithstanding, minimalism may have kept interest in classical music alive at a time in which rock and roll was telling Beethoven to roll over. In addition to piano phase and clapping music, Collected works also contained two recordings of Reich's best known work, Music for 18 Musicians. Composed in the mid-1970s, the piece brought Reich's minimalist fascination with repetition, pulse, phase shifting and patterns to a wider audience. The work made such an impact that it paved the way for the extra acceptance of Philip Glass. He would become minimalism's most successful proponent. Listen to flow from Glass's 1982 album Glassworks. And the influence of Reich is clear so far. You might be thinking that the critic Harold Schonberg was right and that to treat minimalism seriously is to fail to see that the emperor has no clothes. But Steve Reich, who turned 88 last October, has been composing for over 60 years, and like any devoted craftsman, he has developed beyond the rudiments of his beginnings. Besides, what if, instead of a broken link in the evolution of serious music, minimalism is really an unusually experimental kind of pop. What if the anti intellectualism and amniotic comforts that Schoenberg decried are practically necessary ingredients? If you take the 20 or so hours necessary to absorb Reich's collected works, the thesis certainly seems possible. Discs 12 and 13 of collected works contain the audio of the Cave, a 1993 multimedia opera. It sets the reflections of various Jews, Muslims and men and women on the street to speech inflected music.

[Mary Reichard]

It was God who gave her the name Sarah.

[Nick Eicher]

He goes into Egypt and passes Sarah.

[Arsenio Orteza]

Off as his sister. They ponder Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael and Isaac. It's one of several large scale works in which Reich began making greater use of harmony and melody. It also has more in common with performance art than it does with Beethoven, Mozart or Bach. The set also contains Reich's 1980 work Tehilim, vocal settings in Hebrew of four Psalms, and his most recent works Jacob's Ladder and Traveler's Prayer Boy, also based on Scripture. The biblical motifs are no accident. Reich, who has described himself as a traditional Jew, has been exploring the faith of his fathers for decades. So for him, the scriptural texts that he he uses are not public domain tropes, but markers along a path that he has not only taken, but taken seriously. They make the last two thirds of his career seem like a spiritual quest. Heard from this perspective, many of his collected works don't feel minimal at all. I'm Arsenio Ortezza.

[Nick Eicher]

All right, time now to recognize the team that made the world and everything in it happen this week. Caleb Bailey, Hunter Baker, David Bonson, Leo Braceno, Myrna Brown, Bob Case, Janie B. Cheney, Emma Eicher, Emma Frere, Colin Garbarino, Kim Henderson, Zoe Miller, Mary Muncie, Onize Addua, Arsenio Orteza, Jenny Ruff, John Stonestreet, Cal Thomas and our hard working students at WJI these past two weeks. Thanks also to our breaking news team. Lauren Canterbury, Kent Covington, Christina Grub, Travis Kircher, Steve Klosterman and Lindi Langdon. And thanks to the guys who stay up late to get the program to you early. Benj Eicher and Carl Peetz. Harrison Waters is Washington producer, Lindsay Mast and Lee Jones filling in as feature editors as Kristin Flavin is on maternity leave, Paul Butler is executive producer and Les Sillers is Editor in chief. I'm Nick Eicher.

[Mary Reichard]

And I'm Mary Reichard. The world and everything in it comes to you from World Radio. World's mission is biblically objective journalism that informs, educates and inspires Remember, midnight tonight is the deadline for new donors to help support this program and get a double match. Double is where to go to give quick and much appreciated. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians of Thessalonica, for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words, verses 16 through 18 of First Thessalonians, chapter 4. Now we're not meant to walk this Christian life alone, so here's your weekly reminder to go to church this weekend. Be encouraged and be an encourager. We need each other and Lord willing, will be right back here with you on Monday. Go now in grace and peace.