Michael, my son, wrote the letter. It was only the 15th and my writer’s block hadn’t cleared up. It’s a great letter, and you’ll see. He’s going to be at the Feast in Tahoe this year, one of my favorite places. It seems like we just got back, but God has a way of reminding us every year. We can’t have too good a time.

The news is so screwed up, we don’t know what to believe. I’m sure you’ve seen it. I’m going to save my commentary for the Feast, and it won’t be pretty. Well, God is still in charge. The media is out for blood, and Trump keeps one step ahead. They’ve decided that he’s a tyrant. A tyrant that believes in America.

If you’ve ever traveled, you know what I mean. The whole world is a mess. They’ve let all the backstabbers into Europe, and I hope you’ve been already, because the situation we see now is not good. I know people who got mugged in France in the old days. It’s worse now.

We’re lucky to be in the U. S. A. and, where are you going to go? It’s no better anywhere in the world, and I’m busy enjoying Texas, or a small portion of it.

Everything is the way we left it. Nobody knows anything. Zelensky is still in charge of Ukraine, wearing his little fake clothes. The Strait of Hormuz is… who knows? You get conflicting reports nearly every day until you can’t say anything categorically. The world is a mess, but we’ve got a good President, possibly the best ever. History takes time to be written. The press thinks they’re writing it. They’ll probably skew history.

Mark

The post Weekly Update by Mark Armstrong – September 18, 2026 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Oil traders were expecting prices to rise again when markets reopen on Monday, following the weekend developments that jeopardise supplies from the world’s ‌biggest exporter, Saudi Arabia.

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Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/report-attack-strait-hormuz-shipping-022241655.html

The post New attacks in Hormuz and Saudi test nerves as war’s spread worsens oil disruption first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The Feast of Trumpets is almost upon us. It is good to reflect on God’s guidance and ultimate victory. The world is so far away from the righteous decency that He has laid out for us it’s hard to know where to start. In spite of that, we can still be thankful for His truth, His word and the tremendous blessings we still enjoy.

This is all the more poignant as we reflect on the events of 9/11/2001. Most of us can remember where we were that day. My grandfather was actually airborne when the attack took place, en route to a reunion. His plane was grounded. Instead of continuing on his trip he returned home to be able to address the situation on TV and in print. As far away as that day seems at times the effects are still with us. In many ways it was a pivotal moment.

It is not insignificant that we still find ourselves embroiled in the turmoils of the Middle East. However most people may feel about our conflict with Iran, there is no doubt that they would inflict that and more on us again if given the chance.

Things got hot around Hormuz again this week. The announcement that the former passageway was clear of mine prompted Iran to try and launch more from shore, which is not exactly the ideal method. It has escalated from there, with attacks and reprisals rippling across the region.

The idea that oil and goods were flowing again essentially spells doom for Iran. Control of the Strait is leverage they need to retain relevance and their grip on power. Analysts debate how much oil is currently flowing. Ships transiting with their transponders on are few and far between, but this does not tell the whole tale. Most switch off and proceed with escort, and pipelines bypassing the strait have contributed a great deal.

This is why we see the Houthis on full offense over the last days, seizing an important island, with the encouragement and backing of Iran. Added pressure in the Red Sea keeps the trouble alive, and has indeed contributed to a spike in oil prices this week. Iraqi militias also struck a major Saudi pipeline. The Saudis have asked the US to intervene, but the feeling is we would prefer to have them step up and do their own dirty work. Time will tell.

There is plenty to be on alert about but we can thank God for the opportunity to pause on this double Sabbath Day and look forward to the time when all of these problems will be behind us.

-Michael

The post Weekly Update by Michael Armstrong – September 11, 2026 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The CENTCOM strikes appeared to focus on assets that Iran uses to sense ships to strike. US President Donald Trump told Fox News on September 1 that US forces struck an unspecified number of Iranian radars that Iran was attempting to rebuild.[4] Iran uses these radars to detect vessels transiting the strait.[5] CENTCOM noted that this followed the IRGC’s “attempted attacks” on commercial shipping in the strait, thus explicitly linking the attacks on shipping and the strikes.[6]

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Source: https://understandingwar.org/research/middle-east/iran-update-september-1-2026/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUXoHNwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR68KImcGcDgXeXn5xIGiBUme8TxVvGALW9WRo_GQBD7MfKgOUEVHp-tCwaWsQ_aem_izjRRvkbje3Vzh-YsVynPQ

The post Iran Update, September 1, 2026 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

In a video statement, CENTCOM chief Admiral Brad Cooper declared that efforts by US divers, Navy Seals, and aerial assets have cleared all sea mines laid by Iran in the strait’s international shipping lanes, hailing the achievement as “a major milestone” in facilitating commercial traffic.

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Source: https://thenewregion.com/posts/6354?fbclid=IwY2xjawUXn0ZwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR4BjwwN9jRR0-G4N-a1aattRYKpjHQHv3L3_0_Thep25Ayl2wwu7WoxV2Rh6Q_aem_wVxAFeRKYqswA8GgYEs3CA

The post US military claims facilitated transit of nearly 750M oil barrels in Hormuz strait first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The deal that US President Donald Trump signed at Versailles in June set an ambitious 60-day deadline for ending the war with Iran and reaching an accord on its nuclear program.

The deadline was Monday, and the two sides are further apart than they were then.

Talks, such as they are, have focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting a US blockade on Iran, both of which were supposed to have happened under the interim deal. There has been no sign of any compromise on the strait, or that detailed nuclear talks have even begun.

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Source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-60-day-mou-expires-the-us-and-iran-are-even-further-apart-than-before/?fbclid=IwY2xjawT6y0RwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7D3_Q_K0rL8_0M8g_TbneWSWcc2K8uBUFws6qLQtdiQgaDCHrWWdUb_kgudQ_aem_-CH_KuGXdz165x-3qSNGkA

The post As 60-day MOU expires, the US and Iran are even further apart than before first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The Strait of Hormuz is a long ways away.  Some reports say we have control and the others, who knows? We’re involved in two wars, or slightly involved. We know why. The Gulf is essential for a good bit of the oil out of the Middle East.  Zelensky, well that’s another story altogether.  I don’t know about his problem-solving abilities, but he has that look on his face. 

Trump has his number, if they’re speaking. The idea that a little guy like that could play such a major role! I don’t like our potential involvement in it.  But nobody asked me. I don’t like Zelensky’s reputation. 

The media is busy calling out Trump for every perceived infraction.  They can all go jump in the lake as far as I’m concerned. But he is into everything, and maybe that’s what the President was meant to do.  The courts are busy trying to slow him down, but he just keeps coming. Trump is apparently poised to declare the Strait of Hormuz a U. S. territory or something, and patrol it.

There’s lots of gossip news.  Caroline Levitt has resigned and now they’re talking about her joining a network.  Should be entertaining.  But she’s done a great job, good luck replacing her.  All the news now is about people in the media.  Will she go to Fox News?  Who cares?  

Mark

The post Weekly Update by Mark Armstrong – August 14, 2026 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The answer is far from clear, depending not only on how much oil remains in storage, but also on how much of it can actually be released.

Disruption doesn’t get any easier

How long reserves would last can only be ascertained by figuring out the size of the current disruption.

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Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/are-global-oil-stocks-big-enough-weather-another-six-months-us-iran-war-2026-08-13/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTslMZwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7Jpy0L9I_IoCmJx7RJoKzrpWVNED9y_9U7pgos1cTrtxzodeivDSuIcWgIkA_aem_GfmQdL5XuolJhi7vO3A_ew

The post Are global oil stocks big enough to weather another 6 months of US-Iran war? first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The Strait of Hormuz has always been strategic, but now more than ever. All that oil has to pass, though, and we’ve been talking about the passageway forever. Dad did programs where that was front and center. How’s the war going? There are many reports, and I’m sure every news organization wants an eyewitness. How would you like that job?

People are crazy in the Middle East. I don’t know why, but they are and always have been. Sometimes you hear the most fantastic tales, knowing it never happened, but playing along. I had a good time, but those days are over. 

Who knows what’s going on? You would have to volunteer for some pretty rough duty to know for sure. The Arabs talk big. Don’t believe them. Negotiations are breaking out so that you can hardly keep up. Call us when it’s over. 

People are worrying about WWIII again, buying property in South America and so forth. Me? I don’t want to leave home ever again. Much less go to some bunker in Argentina. The Drudge Report keeps showing pictures of Putin with that angry look on his face. What? He wants to rule the world? Good luck with that. If he survives the comrades, maybe.

What with Elon’s chances of colonizing the moon, we need to get off Earth? That will be the day! I like it here.

Back in the day, my Grandad was just sure that humans wouldn’t be allowed in space. That was the ‘60’s. The music was great but the predictions, not so much. I wish my Grandad could see everything happening now. It would be interesting to get his take. The very idea that we’re still here in 2026! 

But right now we’ve got more trouble than bad predictions. 

Mark

The post Weekly Update by Mark Armstrong – August 7, 2026 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Iran’s foreign ministry said Wednesday that Iran and Oman have agreed on a route for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz and are putting the final touches on arrangements for jointly managing the waterway.

Reports said the deal, which would renew a US-Iran ceasefire, would preserve Iranian control of the strait’s traffic.

But official sources briefing Iranian media stressed that any reopening of the strait would depend on the United States fulfilling what Tehran sees as a US commitment to end its own naval blockade of Iran’s ports.

Continue reading HERE

Source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-oman-said-nearing-deal-that-will-restore-us-truce-give-tehran-some-control-over-hormuz/?fbclid=IwY2xjawToggpwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR47YkcqSiTQ7MxpxLcrFZwHYJt6opC2kcMSOk9Cu8nbQjRpXkmuCwlTeLMeYg_aem_Pc8k_jjcWCcMAUzSw0GbTw

The post Iran, Oman said nearing deal that will restore US truce, give Tehran some control over Hormuz first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.