Note: Our newsletter will pause next week and resume Oct 16th as some team members will be on a mission trip. We appreciate your prayers for travel and for God’s outpouring on the lives we encounter.

Devotional

Aroma of Christ

My wife and I had a divine encounter a while back when a furniture repair man showed up to our home. On entering he exclaimed: “what is that amazing scent outside your door!”.  He would go in and out from his vehicle to our home, and kept smelling and looking to see if we had some unique flowers in bloom, which we didn’t. His name was Ezra, which prompted a conversation about its Biblical origin. He explained he wasn’t a believer but at times felt led to talk to God. Before he left, we had an opportunity to join him in a prayer holding hands, which was a completely new experience for him.

This encounter comes to mind when I read Paul’s description of how we are the ‘aroma of Christ’ in 2 Corinthians 2:15.   I always thought this was an odd description of how we project God, but have come to appreciate it more and more over time.

Like a fragrant scent that attracts attention, God desires for us to live our daily lives in a way that draws others to Him through Him abiding in us.   

Our ‘fragrance’ may be our attitude, the tone of our response, our facial expression, or something subtle we may not be conscious of.  As we live in Christ and Christ lives in us, we become His image bearer and naturally begin to radiate His love.  Like a flower gives off an aroma to attract bees, we attract others who will desire to know Jesus, the source of our heavenly aroma.

So be encouraged today as you live for Christ and continue to be a sweet fragrance of His love to those around you. You may not have had an Ezra encounter like we did, but I would love to hear your own story of divine attraction.

Your Feedback

Feedback on Charlie Kirk

Many wondered how long the “spark” that Charlie Kirk’s assassination caused would last.

Well, weeks after his assassination, we, along with the community feedback we’ve received, and personal encounters, can confidently say that the movement has literally just begun.

“Charlie's death has lit a fire underneath me. Although he didn't have a deep impact on me while he was alive, I've eaten up his life's work since the day of the assassination. As Tertullian has been quoted as saying, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church". - Solomon’s Circle Community Member

And then there are personal encounters, such as the one I had with a close friend who is a non-believer (as of right now).

The day of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, I received a text from this friend stating how impacted he was over the death of someone he had never met - in fact, someone he had just started following, literally one day before his death.

He told me he had shed tears for him - and I instantly thought, “wow, look at the Holy Spirit moving.”

Charlie Kirk’s assassination spread seeds that have taken root and will have an everlasting impact upon generations to come - it’s a matter of fact.

Water those seeds as the opportunities arise - step out of your comfort zone - the spark turned into a flame, and together, we can keep feeding the fire.

Financial Update

How AI Is Reshaping Our Financial Landscape

When it comes to AI, we’re used to hearing about transformational ideas, new inventions, and another company that hit billions in valuation.

But there is another industry that AI has been reshaping right in front of our eyes.

From Wall Street trading floors to everyday banking apps, AI is transforming finance in ways that are hard to ignore.

Smarter Investing

On the institutional side, firms like BlackRock rely on their AI-driven system Aladdin, which analyzes risks across trillions of dollars in assets. 

Aladdin crunches vast amounts of data—from market prices to economic indicators—to help portfolio managers make faster, smarter investment decisions. Similarly, JPMorgan Chase has developed AI tools that scan global news and market signals to guide trading desks in real time.

For individual investors, robo-advisors like Betterment and Wealthfront use AI to automatically build and rebalance portfolios. 

These platforms bring professional-level portfolio management to everyday traders, often at a fraction of the cost of traditional financial advisors. In other words, AI is flattening the playing field—making advanced tools more accessible to the average investor.

Fraud Detection and Security

AI’s biggest financial impact may be happening quietly in the background: fraud prevention. For example, Mastercard and Visa use AI models to analyze billions of transactions per second, spotting unusual activity in real time.

If you’ve ever had your card flagged after a suspicious purchase, chances are an AI system—not a human—protected your account.

Banks like HSBC and Bank of America also rely on AI-driven systems to monitor for money laundering and compliance risks, saving billions of dollars while protecting consumers and strengthening trust in the financial system.

Personal Finance Gets Personal

AI is also reshaping how individuals manage money on a daily basis. Bank of America’s “Erica”, an AI-powered virtual assistant, helps millions of customers track spending, pay bills, and even predict cash-flow issues before they happen. Similarly, budgeting apps like Cleo or Plum use AI to coach users toward smarter spending habits and automated savings goals.

These tools essentially function as 24/7 financial assistants—constantly learning from user behavior to provide tailored advice.

Hurdles - risks and challenges

Despite the progress, AI in finance is not without risks. Algorithmic trading systems have already been blamed for “flash crashes,” where markets plunge within minutes due to automated systems feeding off one another. 

There’s also the question of fairness: if only the biggest players like BlackRock and JPMorgan have access to cutting-edge AI, does that widen the gap between Wall Street and Main Street?

And then there’s privacy. AI thrives on data, and the more financial firms depend on it, the more sensitive information is collected. Striking the right balance between innovation and consumer protection remains a challenge.

The Road Ahead

AI in finance is still in its early innings. In the future, we may see fully AI-run investment funds, predictive models that spot financial crises before they happen, and personal finance assistants that automate budgeting, saving, and investing seamlessly.

Just as the internet permanently reshaped banking, AI is poised to define the next era of finance. For investors, businesses, and consumers alike, understanding this shift isn’t optional—it’s essential.

Tech Update

Robots, AI and Automation

I had my most immersive experience with robots while working for a large Japanese company some years ago at a conference in Tokyo.  At that time, I was more amused at the somewhat trivial tasks robots were being trained to do, including folding laundry. OK, I’m spoiled when it comes to laundry because my wife does mine, so I may not appreciate the value.

Fast forward to 2025, and robots are becoming more prevalent.  Here are a few examples:

Robotic Automation

The highest adoption of robots has been for industrial applications, especially in manufacturing. Most modern plants are now being equipped with robotic assembly lines that aid in doing repetitive tasks consistently with limited wear.  An extreme example of this are ‘lights out’ plants, such as FANUC in Japan, which are fully operated by robots continuously without human intervention except for maintenance.

The down side of this, of course, is robots reduce the needs for humans and their employment.  

On a positive note, we see collaborative robots (cobots) being implemented to work alongside humans and not just displace them. There are also ones being used to assist in the process of delivering something like fast food.  Such is the case with Miso Robotics which automates the fast fry process for restaurants using a combination of AI to detect the food types and a robotic arm system to fry the food.

Robotic Policing

We also have robots that now patrol our streets as an extension of police departments.   

For example, several U.S. metropolitan centers have deployed them, including Spot the robotic dog, to patrol the streets and assist SWAT teams to go into dangerous locations. These robots provide the advantage of remote visibility through regular and infrared cameras that can see into areas that otherwise would be difficult or impossible for humans to see. They also reduce the risk of human lives as they can enter hostile locations and are even able to survive gunfire.

Humanoid Robots

Humanoid robots are the next wave of advancement that is upon us. These robots look less like a machine and more like humans in form and function. With advancements in AI and computing, their ability to look and interact with humans will be both transformative and perhaps scary.  

Tesla's Optimus Gen 2 is an example of this.  Packed with an array of sensors, vision recognition and some of the self-driving technology on their cars, these humanoid robots are on the path of integration with our society to a degree that was previously only science fiction.

Biblical Perspective

Robots are here to stay and so are humans. It is interesting that God created mankind in His image and mankind creates robots in man’s image.  

A great reminder of how superior we are and always will be! God designed us for purpose and with intelligence that will never be replaced by a machine, so no need to be intimidated by them. 

Pursue God and his purpose always and use technology for redeeming purposes.

Health Nuggets

Healthy Shopping Tip

Need help shopping for healthy foods in grocery stores?  Check and download the Yuka app-  it’s the one with 🥕icon .  I use it and love it!

With it you can scan the QR code on products to get a full description of ingredients in the product with a score ranging from 1-100.   The higher the better.

If you would like to get information on health, foods, etc., you can also subscribe to Yuka to receive health info such as this great article: “What Should You Eat To Optimize Your Sleep?”

Note: Health Nuggets are opinions and not medical advice.

Trivia Corner

Test your wisdom and knowledge of the Bible.

Prayer & Praise Corner

Prayer Needs & Praise Reports?

We believe God meets our needs, beyond what we ask or image through Holy Spirit working in and through us.

We would love to join with you in prayer or hear your testimony of what God has done for you.

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