Gary Varvel: The Schumer shutdown meeting
Essay: The motive plus a new Humor Me cartoon caption contest
It’s being called the Schumer Shutdown. That’s right the guy who has warned us in the past that shutting down the government hurts average Americans, is threatening to shut down the government unless he gets to spend more money we don’t have.
So President Donald Trump plans to meet with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries at the White House this week to hear their complaints.
ESSAY: THE MOTIVE
Why would someone shoot Charlie Kirk? The Bible’s first murder gives us insight.
Cain, the firstborn of Adam and Eve, killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4). Why?
SIN UNCONTROLLED
Cain offered his best crops to God, while Abel offered his best lambs. God accepted Abel’s offering but not Cain’s. In pride, Cain refused to humble himself and do what was right.
Why was the blood offering accepted?
Well, after Adam and Eve sinned, God covered them with skins (Genesis 3:21). We must assume that God killed an animal for its skin. This set the theme of the Bible: “It is the blood that makes atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11).
This is why Abel offered a lamb.
God warned Cain: “Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it” (Gen. 4:7).
But Cain didn’t control his sinful thoughts. Read 1 John 3:10–12:
“…Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.”
Each day Cain’s conscience convicted him, but instead of repenting for his sin, Cain allowed sin to take control of him, which led to thoughts of murdering his righteous brother.
CAIN AND ABEL TODAY
Charlie Kirk was a modern-day Abel. He stood for God’s truth: only two genders, marriage between man and woman, abortion is murder, salvation through Christ alone.
In contrast, the shooter was in a relationship with a transgender roommate. He texted afterward: “I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.”
But Kirk wasn’t preaching hate—he was proclaiming God’s righteous standard. Like Cain, the shooter struggled with his own conscience and misdirected his anger against God toward Kirk. Refusing to repent, he let sin master him and became a murderer.
Like the prophets of old, Kirk was martyred for simply declaring God’s Word.
ANGER’S DANGER
The Bible says, “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:15).
Uncontrolled anger gives the devil a foothold (Eph. 4:26–27). The late pastor and author Adrian Rogers once compared repressed anger to a fire hidden in a closet: “It may burn itself out, or it may burn the house down.”
THE COST OF SIN
James 1:14-15 says, “each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
Sin always kills something:
Sin kills your marriages.
Sin kills your relationships.
Sin kills your testimony.
Sin kills your reputation.
Sin kills your opportunities.
Sin kills your career.
Sin kills your health and your future.
THE ONLY ANSWER
We must repent and give our anger to God (Acts 8:22–23). Only Christ can change the heart.
Former NFL Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy once said, “When people ask me, ‘How do you stay so calm on the sideline?’ I have to tell them it is Christian maturity and Christ working in me. It’s not natural. It didn’t happen overnight. It was a process. I know how powerful God’s Spirit is.”
Lashing out is natural. Controlling anger is supernatural. And that power comes only from God.
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SPEAKING EVENTS
• Contact gary@garyvarvel.com to inquire about speaking rates and availability.
RIGHT VIEWS
The Federalist - Breccan F. Thies: 118 House Democrats refuse to vote for resolution condemning Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
The Federalist - Brianna Lyman: 6 times leftists melting down over Jimmy Kimmel were happy to deny conservatives ‘Free Speech.’
SPEAKING EVENT
I will be the keynote speaker at the HOWARD COUNTY Vision Dinner - Hosted by Indiana Right to Life on Monday, October 27, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at The Venue at Brookstone in Kokomo, Indiana.
To confirm your sponsorship, please contact Mary Williams at 317.413.9123, or mwilliams@irtl.org
HUMOR ME
HUMOR ME: Fix my cartoon with a snarky remark. Email your entries to gary@garyvarvel.com. Winners announced in Friday’s newsletter for paid subscribers.
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