NewsChat: Daily Podcast with Jack Norton – News 12/28/24
Mayor Beats 9-Year-Old Son, Violence at Chipotle, Man Attacks Churches on Christmas
Tune in daily to NewsChat, the podcast that brings you the truth in news. Hosted by Jack Norton, this show delivers honest, straightforward reporting on the day’s top stories, paired with a thoughtful, sensible take. Presented by the Jack and Kitty News Network in association with Voices of Faith Ministries, NewsChat keeps you informed with clarity, integrity, and honest insights. Stay updated with news that matters and perspectives that guide.
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Mayor Beats 9-Year-Old Son
This is NewsChat: your source for the Truth in today’s news. Today is Saturday, December 28, 2024 and I’m your host Jack Norton from JackAndKitty.com.
Today’s top story, sadly, comes from our home state. This actually happened just down the road from where I’m recording today’s broadcast. The mayor of Canton, Minnesota, Joshua Nordsving, is facing criminal charges after allegedly beating his 9-year-old son.
Nordsving, 34, has been charged with malicious punishment of a child and two counts of domestic assault after the child returned to his mother’s home with bruising on his face in late October.
The boy’s mother, who shares custody with Nordsving, reported that she had been on the phone with her son when she initially believed Nordsving had only spanked him. However, the child later told her he had been struck multiple times in the face, resulting in significant bruising.
In an interview with investigators, Nordsving reportedly admitted to hitting his son in the mouth with the back of his hand, demonstrating the action to authorities. He also acknowledged striking the child too hard and explained that the incident stemmed from ongoing behavioral issues with his son. Nordsving is now facing charges that could lead to serious legal consequences as the case moves through the courts.
This disturbing case brings to light an important discussion about parenting, discipline and the principles behind it, particularly from a Biblical perspective.
Proverbs 13:24 says, “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.”
Unfortunately, this verse has often been misinterpreted, especially in cases like this, where physical violence is mistakenly justified by small minded people as a form of discipline. The true meaning of this proverb doesn’t condone corporal punishment or abuse but emphasizes the importance of loving, thoughtful discipline.
In the context of this story, we see a clear violation of the loving discipline Proverbs refers to. Physical punishment in anger or frustration is never acceptable. Discipline, in its true Biblical sense, is intended to guide children in the right direction, fostering respect, responsibility, and self-control, not fear or trauma.
The “rod” mentioned in the Bible symbolizes correction, not violence, and the key message is that discipline should always be delivered in a way that protects and nurtures the child’s well-being.
Discipline is a vital part of raising children, but it must always be rooted in love and respect. It’s about helping children understand the consequences of their actions and leading them toward positive behavior, not about inflicting harm.
Parents, especially those in positions of power and influence, like disgraced Mayor Joshua Nordsving, have a responsibility to model this type of discipline, showing their children kindness and care. This is the kind of discipline that Proverbs truly advocates—one that balances firm correction with compassion, ensuring the child’s emotional and physical safety while helping them grow into responsible individuals.
Violence at Chipotle
A Chipotle customer in Washington, DC, caused chaos when she attacked an employee after claiming her Uber Eats order was wrong. The woman, frustrated that her burrito bowl didn’t have double meat as requested, stormed behind the counter at the Brentwood location.
After a brief struggle with employee Roberto Hernandez, the situation escalated when she slapped him in the face, causing food to fly. Hernandez tried to calm her down, but the woman became more aggressive and even made chilling threats online, vowing to return and “stab” the workers.
Chipotle filed a police report, while the customer plans to sue, claiming the employees were the aggressors. This attack adds to a growing list of violent incidents at Chipotle locations, with workers facing increasing hostility from customers.
This incident at Chipotle reminds us of the destructive power of uncontrolled anger. The Bible speaks clearly about how anger can lead to harm and division.
In Ephesians 4:26, it says, “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,” urging believers to address their anger quickly and not let it escalate into actions that cause damage to others.
The woman in this story, frustrated over a perceived mistake, allowed her anger to spiral out of control, leading her to physically assault an employee and make violent threats.
In Matthew 5:22, Jesus teaches that even being angry with someone can be as harmful as committing murder in our hearts. Jesus demonstrated the importance of practicing patience, humility, and self-control in difficult circumstances.
Christians are called to love and treat others with kindness, even when things don’t go our way. As Proverbs 15:1 reminds us, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” This is a powerful call for all of us to pause, reflect, and choose peace over violence, offering grace and understanding instead of reacting impulsively in anger.
Man Attacks Churches on Christmas
A 56-year-old Maryland man, Thomas Campbell Bolling Von Goetz, was arrested after disrupting two Christmas Eve church services.
The chaos began at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Avenue, where Von Goetz entered during a service, approached the altar, and dropped an onion in the aisle. When a parishioner followed him outside, Von Goetz allegedly threw tangerines at them.
Later that night, Von Goetz caused further disturbance at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Leonardtown during Midnight Mass, where he poured whiskey into the holy water and threatened to harm parishioners. Parishioners escorted him out and he attempted to strike several of them with a whiskey bottle.
He was detained until deputies arrived, and after a medical evaluation, he was arrested on charges including second-degree assault, disorderly conduct, and defacing religious property. He remains in custody at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center.
You know, I find this story deeply troubling, as it involves actions that not only defile sacred spaces but also cause harm to others. Whether Thomas Campbell Bolling Von Goetz was under the influence of alcohol or something more sinister, such as demonic possession, requires careful reflection.
The Bible teaches that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), and actions that disrespect others or sacred things are a violation of this principle. The fact that Von Goetz poured whiskey into holy water, assaulted a parishioner, and disrupted two church services suggests a profound lack of reverence for God’s house and His people.
While drunkenness is condemned in Scripture (Ephesians 5:18), it’s important to distinguish between the effects of alcohol and the influence of spiritual forces. Some may interpret his erratic behavior as being influenced by something darker, as the Bible warns of spiritual forces that can move people to act in ways that are harmful and destructive (Ephesians 6:12).
Ultimately, Christians believe that all people are in need of redemption, whether their actions are driven by sin, addiction, or spiritual oppression. Prayer, compassion, and a commitment to guiding those in need towards healing are key responses for the Christian community. Rather than focusing on whether Von Goetz was a “drunk” or “demonically possessed,” the Bible calls Christians to pray for those who may be lost and to seek peace and restoration in all situations (Matthew 5:44).
Thanks for listening to NewsChat – now if the good Lord’s willing and the creek don’t rise, I’ll see you again tomorrow morning. I hope you have a great weekend – the last of 2024. Let me know in the comments how you’ll be spending the day. Remember, Jesus loves you and you deserve to feel good today! Take care.
NewsChat is a co-production from the Jack and Kitty News Network and Voices of Faith Ministries, visit us at JackAndKitty.com. Have a news tip, prayer request or just want to say hi? Email us: hello@jackandkitty.com. NewsChat is written and producted by Kitty Norton, with additional research by our reporters Maria Garcia, Todd Johnson, Thomas Miller and Emma Smith. It is recorded and hosted by me, Jack Norton and edited by Todd Johnson. Music composed and performed by Jack and Kitty Norton.
Finally, a bit of good news: I saw a nice stereo on Facebook Marketplace for $1. Seller says the volume is stuck on “high.” I couldn’t turn it down.
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