NewsChat: Daily Podcast with Jack Norton – News 12/29/24
Yoga Teacher Turned Murderer, Hero Dies in Christmas Fire, Denzel Washington Becomes Minister
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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Yoga Teacher Turned Murderer
This is NewsChat: your source for the Truth in today’s news. Today is Sunday, December 29, 2024 and I’m your host Jack Norton from JackAndKitty.com.
Kaitlin Armstrong, the fugitive yogi from Texas, made headlines after fleeing the country to avoid arrest for the murder of professional cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson in May 2022.
Armstrong shot Wilson in a jealous rage over her boyfriend, Colin Strickland, before going on the run.
For 43 days, Armstrong evaded capture, even undergoing plastic surgery to alter her appearance.
Using a fake passport, she made her way to Costa Rica, where authorities tracked her down after a fake yoga ad lured her into the open. The U.S. Marshals arrested her in a remote town, where they found evidence of her cosmetic surgery under an alias.
Back in Texas, Armstrong was convicted of Wilson’s murder and sentenced to 90 years in prison. She was also ordered to pay $15 million in restitution to Wilson’s family.
The case shocked many not just because of the brutal crime but due to the lengths Armstrong went to in order to evade justice.
From a Biblical perspective, the tragic story of Kaitlin Armstrong and Anna Moriah Wilson serves as a sobering reminder of the destructive power of jealousy.
In the Bible, jealousy is often portrayed as a deeply dangerous emotion that can lead to sin and harm.
In James 3:16, it is written, “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”
Armstrong’s actions—murdering another woman out of jealousy over her relationship with a man—embody this biblical warning. Jealousy consumed her to the point where it led her to not only take a life but also go to extreme lengths to avoid facing the consequences of her sin.
The Bible teaches us that jealousy, if left unchecked, can spiral into deeper resentment and violence.
Proverbs 14:30 tells us, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”
This verse emphasizes how jealousy, rather than being a mere feeling, can corrupt our hearts and actions, leading us down a path of destruction.
In Armstrong’s case, her jealousy led her to make choices that ruined not only her own life but also the lives of those around her, including the tragic loss of Wilson and the grief of her family.
As Christians, we are called to combat jealousy by focusing on love, forgiveness, and humility.
1 Corinthians 13:4 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”
This powerful reminder calls believers to model their relationships after Christ’s example, where love, not jealousy, should guide our hearts and actions.
Ultimately, while Armstrong’s story is tragic, it offers an important opportunity for reflection on the consequences of allowing jealousy to take root in our lives and the importance of guarding our hearts against such destructive emotions.
Heroic Dies in Christmas Fire
A man in Oakland, California, tragically died after saving his family from a house fire on Christmas morning.
The fire broke out around 6:15 a.m. at a home on Oak Knoll Boulevard. Oakland Fire Department crews responded quickly and brought the fire under control in about 30 minutes.
During a search of the house, they found 37-year-old Steven Weatherford unresponsive and later pronounced him dead. Weatherford had alerted his father, aunt, and brother to the fire and helped them escape, but he was likely disoriented by smoke and couldn’t make it out in time.
The family, who was hosting a large Christmas gathering, remembered Weatherford as a hero.
His aunt, Eunice Smith, recalled how Steven made sure everyone was safe before heading back into the house, possibly to check if anyone was still inside.
His actions saved four family members, but tragically, he didn’t survive. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Steven Weatherford’s actions reflect the purest form of selfless love, exemplifying Christ’s sacrificial nature.
In John 15:13, we are reminded that “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Weatherford’s heroic act of saving his family, even at the cost of his own life, mirrors the love that Jesus demonstrated when He sacrificed Himself for humanity.
Just as Christ put others before Himself, Weatherford’s love for his family was so deep that he risked—and ultimately gave—his life for their safety.
We are called to love and serve others, even at great personal cost. Like Christ, who laid down His life for us without hesitation, Weatherford displayed a willingness to endure suffering for the sake of others.
In this, he is not just a hero in a traditional sense, but a living example of Christ’s love and sacrifice. His family’s tribute to him as a “hero” is a reflection of the deep impact his actions had on their lives, and we can see through this tragedy the profound, sacrificial love that is central to the Christian faith. Please keep the family and friends of Steven Weatherford in your prayers.
Denzel Washington Becomes Minister
Denzel Washington, the Oscar-winning actor, recently took a significant step in his personal life by receiving his minister’s license at the historic Kelly Temple in New York City.
The 69-year-old actor was baptized by Archbishop Christopher Bryant in a moving ceremony, where he shared an inspiring message about the limitless power of faith.
Washington reflected on his spiritual journey, which began as a child at Kelly Temple and deepened in the 1980s after an experience with actor Robert Townsend. His commitment to faith was celebrated on social media, where Bryant posted about the milestone.
Washington also spoke openly about his belief that religion is rarely discussed in Hollywood.
In a candid interview with Esquire, he explained that faith is not “fashionable” or “sexy” in the industry, and that actors can’t speak about their beliefs openly if they want to succeed in the film world.
Despite this, he’s unafraid to share his faith, saying it’s central to his life. Washington remains uncertain how many of his peers in Hollywood share his beliefs, but his journey into ministry marks a powerful shift in his life and career.
You know, Hollywood – or as I like to call it, “Hollyweird” – has long been a stronghold for demonic influence, pushing narratives that tear down Biblical values and promote a culture of sin.
But with the current rise of spiritual awakening in America, forces of darkness that have ruled the entertainment industry for decades are starting to break.
Denzel Washington’s bold decision to step into ministry is not just personal—it’s a spiritual battle being fought and won.
As the world’s stage, Hollywood has been a platform for propagating lies, perversion, and anti-God messages. But as Washington and others like him embrace their faith, it’s clear: God is moving powerfully to expose and dismantle the demonic strongholds that have held sway over the entertainment world.
This is the beginning of a great spiritual awakening, one that will not be silent in the face of the enemy.
As Christians, like Denzel, rise up to boldly declare their faith, Hollywood’s grip on the hearts and minds of millions will crumble.
The Bible is clear: “The gates of hell will not prevail” (Matthew 16:18). With every step of faith taken by believers in places like Hollywood, God is reclaiming territory.
The enemy thought it had a firm hold on this cultural powerhouse, but the tide is turning. God is calling His people to rise up, speak out, and break the chains that have kept His truth from reaching the masses.
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, relaxing Sunday. 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 my wife Kitty Norton, with additional research by our team of news 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, for those of you planning your New Year’s Resolutions, did you hear about the squirrel diet? It’s just nuts.
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