Good morning everyone.
I’ve been missing in action the last two weeks because I’ve been really sad and mad about the assassination of Charlie Kirk. His steadfast pursuit and gracious declaration of the truth made him someone I’ve long looked up to.
I highly recommend watching Sunday’s memorial.
Highlights included Tucker Carlson talking repentance (did not have that on my 2025 bingo card!), Kari Jobe’s anointed worship set, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio boldly proclaiming the Gospel, and—above all—Erika Kirk’s Christ-like forgiveness to the man who murdered her husband.
Charlie’s death has inspired me to raise my truth-and-grace calibers by at least 500 notches. If you thought I was uninhibited before, you better buckle up, Buttercups.
And if you’re someone who celebrated or justified (“Nobody should be murdered for their political ideas. But…”) Charlie’s murder, you’re either really dumb or very dark or, quite possibly, both.
ROB is praying for the health of your mind. And more critically—your eternal soul.
In honor of Charlie, I’m gonna tone down my dictatorial proclamations and try to do a better job of listening—and conversing—with my detractors. I’m replacing despotism with debate.
Have a problem with something I say? From here on out, it’s your duty to speak up!
But fair warning: if you step into the ring, I’ll take you to the rhetorical woodshed. You’ll cry for weeks. But you will learn. You will come back stronger. Ready to spar. Ready to give me a challenge.
“Victory lies on the far side of your own sea of tears.” — Running On Butter
McDonalds’s is investing $200 million into regenerative ranching practices. I was skeptical at first, thinking this was more PR than a genuine shift. But they’ve laid out specifics (a seven-year plan across 38 states) and are even partnering with the USDA to make it happen. I’m cautiously optimistic.
For those who don’t know, regenerative agriculture may be our best shot at repairing the planet from human-induced damage. And before you call me a lib (flattered, by the way), the changing environment is hard to ignore. It’s nearly impossible to find seafood free of heavy metals, or to avoid microplastics and glyphosate in our food supply or forever chemicals in our household products. These are man-made problems that directly harm our health.
Regenerative farming works on two levels: it restores the earth and it restores us. Heal the soil, heal the food, heal ourselves. Now should we all sit in a circle and sing Imagine by John Lennon?
School lunches are getting healthier. New federal regulations cap added sugar in chocolate milk and yogurt at 10g, and schools are partnering with local farmers for fresh produce. Love this.
My friend and bonafide Buttercup Emily Otteson dropped a new bluegrassy delight that y’all must hear.
A new NYU study found that early plastic exposure in kids may be linked to higher rates of asthma, infertility, and even cancer as they grow into adulthood. “If we want kids to stay healthy and live longer, then we need to get serious about limiting the use of these materials,” the study’s lead author said. A simple place to start: swap plasticware for glassware, and use a thermos or tumbler instead of bottled water.
If you asked me what my ideal weekend looks like, I’d say working out on the beach and hanging with friends. This weekend, I got to do exactly that. CrossFit comp with Kevin and David, two geriatric but fit Buttercups.
A number of you reached out requesting my pumpkin muffin recipe. First of all: Running On Butter’s office hours are 10am-1pm every second and fourth Wednesday, so I feel zero obligation to respond to such inquiries. However, I’m feeling generous today. Recipe for Pumpkin Spice Butter Muffins here.