Today’s News at a Glance:

1. The Burning Man festival is doused with a flood, leaving thousands stranded in the mud.

2. We want to introduce you to two of our new robot friends, Sorty McSortface and Sir Sorts-a-Lot.

3. The NFL season starts tomorrow, and we made a list of teams to root for!

Today’s stories feature struggles, innovations, and lighthearted fandom. Life is diverse, and each day offers fresh new challenges, absurdities, and victories. Let’s pause for a moment today and appreciate them all. Each challenge offers a chance to show resilience and reliance on God. Each absurdity offers us a chance to laugh and remember that life is fun. Each victory is an opportunity to exercise humility and gratitude. Life’s good, friends. Life can be hard. It can bring struggles. But man, oh man, is life filled goodness. Praise God.

We’re glad you’re here. We pray this take on the news leaves you informed and transformed.

“A man’s heart plans his course, but The Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

Dear Heavenly Father,
We recognize that while we may make plans and have dreams, it is ultimately Your will that prevails in our lives. Help us to embrace this truth, trusting that Your plans for us are far greater than anything we could imagine for ourselves. Grant us the wisdom to seek Your guidance in all we do, the courage to follow where You lead, and the peace to trust in Your divine orchestration of our lives. Thank you, Lord, for establishing our steps, for guiding us toward Your purpose, and for always being the steady hand that directs our path. In the powerful name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Smaller Bites:

Here’s today’s news: cut short and sweet with a prayer…

1. Burning Man Doused by Flood: Thousands Left Stranded in the Desert.

This year's Burning Man festival in Nevada's Black Rock Desert experienced severe flooding due to a torrential summer storm, leading to the postponement of the festival's final events and stranding nearly 72,000 attendees. While many faced deteriorating conditions and rumors of dwindling supplies, the crowd, including celebrities like Chris Rock, largely hunkered down and some made their way to the nearest town. The crisis highlighted the differences between attendees in terms of preparedness and resources, and also drew attention from President Joe Biden, who coordinated with local authorities to monitor the situation.

Lord, we lift up all those who found themselves in unexpected adversity at the Burning Man festival. May their experience of community and mutual aid in a time of need serve as a testament to the resilience and solidarity that all humans are capable of, regardless of our differences. Guide us to remember that in times of hardship, it is Your grace and the support of the community that sees us through. Amen.

2. Meet Sorty McSortface, The AI Robot Leading the Charge in Recycling

In Boulder County, Colorado, two AI-powered robots named "Sorty McSortface" and "Sir Sorts-a-Lot" have been developed by Amp Robotics to significantly improve recycling. Capable of sorting 80 items per minute and discerning detailed information about waste materials, these robots could revolutionize the recycling industry. However, concerns remain, such as the high cost of these robots, potential for corporate greenwashing, and the need for a larger shift in production patterns to address the volume of waste.

Dear Lord, we thank You for the gift of innovation and the ability to solve complex problems that affect Your creation. As we celebrate advancements in recycling technology, let us not forget that our ultimate calling is to be responsible stewards of the Earth. May we continue to work toward sustainable practices, always mindful of our duty to care for the planet You have entrusted to us. Amen.

3. NFL Kickoff is on Thursday! Do you have your talking points ready?

The NFL season is about to start, and its massive popularity makes it a cultural talking point. If you are interested in keeping track of the NFL this year, we have suggested five teams to root for, each appealing for different reasons. One team for their legacy. One team for their strong lineup and elite quarterback. Another for their underdog appeal. One for their potential rise. And a last one for their inspiring turnaround. Read the full story to see which teams made our list! While sports can be enjoyable and provide social connections, it's essential not to let them distract from more important aspects like faith and family.

Dear Lord, as a new NFL season unfolds, may we enjoy the competition, camaraderie, and community that come with it. Let us be mindful of the time and attention we give to sports, ensuring it does not take away from our responsibilities or spiritual pursuits. Help us use sports as a way to connect and share meaningful moments with others, all while keeping You at the center of our lives. Amen.

Burning Man Doused by Flood: Thousands Left Stranded in the Desert.

BLACK ROCK DESERT, Nev. — Burning Man, a festival that started in 1986 on a San Francisco beach, has now become a mecca for nearly 72,000 attendees, artists, musicians, and activists who congregate in the Black Rock Desert, about 110 miles north of Reno. However, this year's gathering took a turn for the worse when the festival area was flooded due to a torrential summer storm. A half-inch of rain fell in a matter of hours, rendering the grounds impassable.

Organizers had to halt vehicle traffic, postponing the festival's final events. The flooding delayed the exodus of attendees, transforming the desert into a muddy morass.

Stranded
As the stranded crowd faced deteriorating conditions and rumors of dwindling supplies, including low food and water, one could sense the festival's core tenets being severely tested. Most attendees hunkered down, some managing to make it to the nearest town either on foot or by hitching rides.

Among the stranded were celebrities like Chris Rock, who walked six miles through the mud before hitching a ride. "We're going to take care of each other and make the best of it," said Cindy Bishop, a Bostonian attending her second Burning Man.

A Transformative Experience
Reports indicate that many "burners" were surprisingly unfazed by the dire circumstances. President Joe Biden acknowledged the crisis, and the White House coordinated with local authorities to monitor the situation. Interestingly, what started as a countercultural festival for hippies has evolved into a scene populated by tech moguls and celebrities. This year’s disaster has exposed the contrast between those who came in air-conditioned RVs and private jets and those who were more prepared for the festival’s principle of "radical self-reliance."

Reflection
While Burning Man is generally not viewed through a religious lens, and we by no mean celebrate Burning Man as an event, its recent ordeal echoes themes familiar to many Christians: community, resilience, and preparedness. The Apostle Paul speaks of "rejoicing in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope" (Romans 5:3-4).

The stranded festival-goers, forced to rely on each other in a trying time, offer a compelling testament to human solidarity. Despite the differences in lifestyle and beliefs, one can find something deeply meaningful about a community coming together in adversity.

Let this event also serve as a reminder that while we may plan, it is the Lord who establishes our steps (Proverbs 16:9). In our walks, be it through the desert or through life, preparedness and community are not just survival skills but spiritual practices that bring us closer to the divine.

Meet Sorty McSortface, The AI Robot Leading the Charge in Recycling

Recycling, the humble process of turning old into new, seems caught in a loop of inefficiency. Despite our best intentions, the blue bins often stand as mere placebos, offering a psychological balm for consumer guilt. But here, in a facility in Boulder County, Colorado, the winds of change carry the scent of silicon and motor oil. Meet our new friends, “Sorty McSortface” and “Sir Sorts-a-Lot”, two pioneering AI-powered robots developed by Amp Robotics that may just revolutionize recycling as we know it.

These are not just any robots. Inspired by the claw machines from arcades, these are supercharged with intelligence that can discern millions of shapes, logos, and even SKU numbers, sorting 80 items per minute. A task that was once the stumbling block for recycling—namely, sorting materials with intricate detail—now seems within reach.

Recycling in the U.S. has long faced structural barriers. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), less than 9% of plastic finds its way to recycling facilities, and even then, the quality is often so poor that these plastics are mostly incinerated or dumped in landfills. Traditional sorting methods have done little to bridge this quality gap. However, with the advent of AI, robotics companies are turning the tide.

These new-age robots are not mere machines; they're vision systems trained on numerous pictures of waste items. The robots can identify granular specifics, such as the chemical makeup of a plastic bottle, which allows for highly targeted sorting. The high-tech optics and AI algorithms can distinguish a milk jug from a pesticide container, a task nearly impossible for human sorters at the speed waste is processed.

So, why haven't we switched to robotic sorting wholesale? One significant hurdle is the cost, with each robot running up a bill of around $300,000. But, like all technology, costs will likely decrease over time, making them increasingly accessible. While they might not offer a solution for all the problems afflicting recycling—most significantly, the 'throwaway culture' that has escalated single-use plastics—the robots are certainly a step in the right direction. The industry is ripe for this transformation, as seen with the increasing investments from tech giants like Google and Microsoft.

Despite the optimism, caution is necessary. Advances in AI could unwittingly bolster corporate greenwashing strategies. Companies might be quick to declare their products "recyclable" when they are merely sortable, pushing the onus back on consumers and recycling facilities. Initiatives that place financial responsibility on producers, rather than merely enhancing sorting facilities, are equally important in fostering a circular economy.

Moreover, the current efficiency in sorting does not address the sheer volume of waste. As Suzanne Jones, Executive Director of Ecocycle, aptly pointed out, what we need is a radical shift in production patterns, not just better ways of handling the aftermath.

Reflection
The gifts of ingenuity, innovation, and a curious mind are not human accidents; they're reflections of the Creator's grand design. In this context, AI's role in revamping recycling is more than a technological feat; it's an inspired leap toward stewardship of Earth. While God made humans the caretakers of His creation, it's essential to remember that stewardship goes beyond conservation—it includes innovation and forward-thinking to solve the problems we've created.

Ingenuity glorifies God by revealing new facets of His wisdom embedded within creation. When we improve recycling facilities or create AI bots that manage waste better, we're essentially participating in God’s redeeming work. These are not just secular pursuits but sacred endeavors that bring us closer to fulfilling our God-given mandate: "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it" (Genesis 2:15).

As Christians, it's not enough to simply admire these advancements; we are called to be part of them. We have a collective duty to advocate for sustainable practices and support innovation that aligns with God's call to be caretakers of the Earth. Every sorted bottle, every conserved resource, serves as a small but significant act of worship—a step towards the world as God intended it to be.

NFL Kickoff is on Thursday! Do you have your talking points ready?

The NFL season kicks off on Thursday night, where the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs will host the up-and-coming Detroit Lions. The cultural phenomenon of the NFL can’t be escaped. Sports accounted for 94 of the 100 most-watched telecasts last year. The NFL alone accounted for 82 of the top 100 telecasts. The average viewership of a regular-season NFL game is about the same as the NBA finals every year. To hammer home just how popular the NFL is, the Oscars had 18.7 million viewers last year. That’s about the average viewership of a random NFL game on any given Sunday. That means a lot of people are going to be asking if you watched “the game” on Sunday, and we don’t want you left in the dark when that happens.

Maybe you aren’t into football but don’t want to be left out of the conversation. Perhaps you want to get into football to relate to co-workers or family. Rest assured, dear reader, PrayNews has your back. The best way to get into football is to be invested in a team. So, here are five teams to root for this season. By creating a list of five NFL teams to root for, we leave out twenty-seven other teams, which is bound to anger some passionate fans out there. But that’s the nature of news sometimes, right? Can’t please everyone. Anyways, here are five teams you should consider rooting for this year if you aren’t yet loyal to a team…

1.) The Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are a historic franchise with a legacy of success, prestige, and elite quarterback play. They were the winners of the first two Super Bowls and had four Super Bowl titles in their franchise. Green Bay is a small city, but its fans are strong and passionate… Plus, they get to wear cheese on their heads. Why is this the year to begin rooting for the Packers? Because their elite quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, just left to play for the New York Jets. Why does that make them a good team to root for? It’s almost like buying stock when it’s at a low. You get to be a fan of a historically elite team and possibly get a front seat to a new era of success. They have a good Head Coach, Matt Lefleur, and a new quarterback everyone is eager to see, Jordan Love. We can’t guarantee that this season will be pretty, but the Packers have earned much trust over decades of sustained success.

2.) The Kansas City Chiefs
Why should you root for the Chiefs? Two words: Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes has been the quarterback for Kansas City since 2018. Since he began there, he has won two NFL MVPs, made it to three Super Bowls, and won two of those three being named Super Bowl MVP. Patrick Mahomes’ career is just getting started, but he is already lauded as the best quarterback to ever play. Couple his talent with the offensive genius of Head Coach Andy Reid and a Hall of Fame tight-end, Travis Kelce, The Chiefs are heavy favorites to make it to their fourth Super Bowl in five years.

3.) The Detroit Lions
If you like a plucky underdog, the Lions may be the team for you. The Lions have been perennial losers for decades, but last year gave us a glimmer of hope. Led by Lionhearted Head Coach Dan Campbell, Detroit overachieved last year and exceeded everybody’s expectations. They didn’t make the playoffs, but they managed to have a top-five offense and win some exciting games down the stretch. They have a young and talented defensive line and an underdog at quarterback, Jared Goff, who many people wrote off when the Rams traded him. The Lions don’t have a history of winning, but this year might be different. If you want to take a chance on a team this year, the Lions may be a good pick.

4.) The New York Jets
Every season has its Chosen One - a team destined to rise. That team this year seems to be the New York Jets. The Jets have been a historically beaten-up franchise, unable to eke out a winning season since 2015. Last year, the Jets drafted two rookies who took the league by storm. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson won Offensive Rookie of the Year, and cornerback Sauce Gardner won Defensive Rookie of the Year. This team is young, well-coached, and only missed one thing to take them to the next level - a quarterback. Enter future Hall of Famer and four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers. He left the Green Bay Packers this offseason to join the Jets, hopefully to aid them in their rise. If you want to hop on the Jets bandwagon this year, seats are still available.

5.) The Cincinnati Bengals
This team is hard not to root for. The Bengals were a mediocre franchise for nearly two decades before the arrival of Joe Burrow, the league’s coolest quarterback. He is a truly talented player, but the real value he brought to the Bengals was confidence. You used to count on this team to lose in the first round of the playoffs every year, but now you can count on them to be in the AFC championship game. Their humble beginnings add to their appeal. When you root for the Bengals, you feel like you’re rooting for everyone who struggled and finally found success.

Honorable Mentions:

• The Los Angeles Rams - The NFL’s darling two years ago, with a Super Bowl win, fell dramatically last year and are now rebuilding with the youngest team in NFL history.

• The Philadelphia Eagles - One of the best rosters in the NFL, made it to the Super Bowl last year and have a legacy of passionate fans. They are a trustworthy and well-ran franchise.

• The Jacksonville Jaguars - Nobody’s first choice, perenially mediocre, but have a fun new offensive roster and a head coach and quarterback who love Jesus and are very open about their faith.

Reflection
If we aren’t careful, sports can just be yet another idol added to the list. Sports can take up valuable time and attention away from our faith, family, and connections. So any time we venture into new interests or hobbies, we must keep that in mind. Ask yourself, “Is this going to take away from my faith and distract me from what’s really important?”

However, sports can also provide connections to the people around us and moments of inspiration that motivate us to be the best version of ourselves. Paul compared our faith to athletics. In 2 Timothy 4, Paul talked about finishing the race well and winning the prize that God had set before him. In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul talked about approaching our faith as an athlete does in a sport - with diligence and a desire to win.

When put in the right context, a love for sports can inspire us in our faith. Yet may we always be reminded to never let hobbies take the place of genuine progress in our faith.

Thank you for joining us today on PRAY NEWS. It is our aim to be informed and transformed. We pray today you would proceed with hope, love, and determination to be a force for good.