7 Characteristics of Healthy Families. I Will Never Leave You. MEAT AND DAIRY CAUSE CANCER.

7 Characteristics of Healthy Families

“The Bible has much to say about how to have a healthy family. Studying the common traits shared by successful families can help you strengthen your family.

Characteristics of a healthy family include:

1. Having a deep commitment to one another.
2. Making family time a top priority.
3. Communicating in a way that’s constructive.
4. Showing sincere appreciation for one another.
5. Looking out for one another.
6. Resolving conflicts quickly and promptly.
7. Sharing a spiritual commitment.

Browse the self-help section of any bookstore or library, and you will likely find a sea of books about creating and maintaining a harmonious and healthy family life. Belonging to a loving, secure family unit is a basic human desire. Most of us can readily see the value of close family connections and healthy family dynamics.

A strong family can be a source of emotional support, love, security and protection, which makes the challenges and trials of day-to-day living easier to face. Children flourish when they feel loved, nurtured and supported by their parents and siblings. A good family life can even have positive effects on your physical and mental health, including improving blood pressure and increasing life expectancy.

Healthy families are the building blocks of society

Certainly, God wants our families to succeed and prosper. He designed the family to be the basic building block of society; thus in order for our communities to be stable, the families that comprise them must be as well. And ultimately, God wants us to have spiritually healthy families so we can produce godly offspring (Malachi 2:15) and expand His family.

But while family relationships are important, we all know strong families don’t “just happen.” Sustaining a marriage and raising children are challenging things to do. If we want to have happy homes, we have to work hard to create them.

How to build a healthy family

One of the best ways to strengthen your family is by studying the common traits and qualities shared by successful families. When you understand what a well-functioning family unit looks like, you’ll know what changes you may need to make in your own household. Here are some of the most vital characteristics of healthy families, from a biblical perspective:                                Continued at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/relationships/family/7-characteristics-of-healthy-families/?

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I Will Never Leave You

Hebrews 13:5-6

“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

The natural human tendency is to focus on the physical. Sometimes we desire more money and possessions for enjoyment, but in worrisome times our lack of contentment can be driven simply by a desire for financial security.

Thankfully Christians can turn to God for that security. This passage in Hebrews quotes from several encouraging passages in the Old Testament. Moses and God both encouraged Joshua as he took on a heavy new responsibility (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5).

“I will never leave you nor forsake you: This quotation is one of the most emphatic statements in the New Testament. In Greek it contains two double negatives, similar to saying in English, ‘I will never, ever, ever forsake you’” (Nelson’s NKJV Study Bible, comment on Hebrews 13:5-6).

The second quote about God’s help allowing us to not fear comes from Psalm 118:6.

For more encouraging scriptures, see our section featuring “Encouraging Bible Verses.” For more about God’s love and faithfulness, see “Love of God” and “God’s Promises: Rock-Solid Hope and Assurance.””

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MEAT AND DAIRY CAUSE CANCER – Dr T. Colin Campbell’s “The China Study.”

8 Minute YouTube:   https://youtu.be/QoBx97JHcKE

Dr. Campbell reveals how a vegan diet can prevent diseases like cancer.

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Humility: Why It Matters. Do It With Your Might. Can We Eat To Starve Cancer?

Humility: Why It Matters

“Humility isn’t valued very highly today. But the Bible shows it’s not just a nice characteristic—it’s one that’s essential to please God.

Arrogance is certainly not among the most desirable characteristics in a person. People who are arrogant, full of themselves, and who deem themselves superior to others are so annoying. They’re condescending, selfish, egotistical and blind to the needs of others.

For many, the arrogance of others is an annoyance and source of frustration, but nothing more. Most would prefer that others not be arrogant, but society doesn’t really put a high value on its opposite—humility. The self-assured seem to succeed, while the humble get walked on.

A look at the Bible, however, shows that God places great emphasis on humility—and says some very condemning things about pride in all its forms.

God hates pride

“These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him,” begins the list of things that God absolutely hates. They are not things that annoy God, His pet peeves or a few minor frustrations. This is the list of things that God will not tolerate. The first thing on this list is “a proud look” (Proverbs 6:16-17).

God does more than hate pride. Pride is so offensive that He actually “resists the proud,” while, in contrast, He “gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

God also requires humility of those who choose to follow Him (Micah 6:8). It is on the humble one He will look, not the arrogant (Isaiah 66:2). The contrast is so strong that the Bible declares, “The LORD will destroy the house of the proud, but He will establish the boundary of the widow” (Proverbs 15:25). The possessions of the proud will be destroyed, while God will look after and protect the humble, such as widows.

Why are pride and humility such big deals to God?

Pride’s grand entrance

Humans generally see pride in others as an annoyance, but we have a hard time seeing it in ourselves. God sees pride for exactly what it is—a terrible instigator of evil.

The universe was originally ideal and full of peace. Everything was perfect. There was no strife, confusion, violence, evil or destruction.

Then things began to change. Gradually, one of God’s greatest angels started to think how great he was. The angel—the one often called Lucifer—began to think that he was even greater than God Himself. As his pride grew, he apparently corrupted a third of the other angels and staged a rebellion against the very God of heaven (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-19; Revelation 12:7-9). For more on how Lucifer became Satan, read “Satan: A Profile.”

Pride and the plan of God

To fully understand why God hates pride and esteems humility so much, it’s necessary to understand what God has planned for the human race. This physical life is not all there is—it’s a time to prepare for a limitless life dwelling in eternity.

Mankind was made with a purpose—the purpose of becoming sons and daughters of God Himself (2 Corinthians 6:18; Hebrews 2:10). Those who become children of God will be given awesome power.

That power can’t go to just anybody. God will only give it to those He trusts to use it wisely. If He gave that power to someone as arrogant as Satan, the potential for evil and destruction would be unimaginable.

It’s vital that we learn the lesson of humility now—in this physical life. Pride destroys, devastates and corrupts. It’s vital that we learn the lesson of humility now—in this physical life. Pride destroys, devastates and corrupts. No member of God’s family can possess pride. God doesn’t, and neither will His children.

For more on man’s purpose for life, read our article “Purpose of Life.”

God’s example

God is superior to mankind in every way imaginable. In spite of this, God loves us enough to deal with us and, more amazing still, is willing to share all that He is and all that He has with us.

When Jesus Christ was on the earth, He revealed to us the very mind of the Father (John 5:19). The example that Christ set was one of humility (Luke 22:27; John 13:1-16). Christ’s willingness to become human and sacrifice Himself for His creation was the supreme act of love and humility (Philippians 2:5-7).

How pride destroys

Pride is an overinflated sense of self-worth, or thinking that we are greater than we actually are. Pride occurs when our perspective becomes so skewed that we think we are superior to those around us. It destroys relationships and is the opposite of godly love.

Pride causes us to forget that the nations are a drop in the bucket compared to God (Isaiah 40:15). Pride makes us think that we do not need God. As man elevates himself, God eventually gets shoved out of the picture entirely (Romans 1:18-25).

Thinking that we don’t need God is one of the biggest mistakes we can make. Satan—the arrogant being who started all of the evil we see in the world—is still “the ruler of this world” (John 14:30). His goal is the utter destruction of every single human being in existence. The only way that we can prevent him from achieving that goal is to “submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:7-8).

Pride’s ugly future

In the last days, before Christ’s return, pride will bring mankind to the brink of total destruction. The apostle Paul provided a list of the predominant characteristics that men and women will have in the end times, and it’s not a pretty list. The descriptions range from traitors to those without self-control to the haughty (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

These characteristics—including haughtiness or pride—will cause mankind to defy God. When He causes plagues to strike the earth for the purpose of bringing mankind to repentance, many will be too arrogant to turn to Him. They will grow angry and blaspheme God instead of humbly bending to His will (Revelation 16:9, 11, 21).

In the end, prideful men will be humbled, and Satan will be put away.

In the meantime, it is up to us to destroy the pride in our lives and develop the humility that was in the mind of Christ. If we are to be exalted as members of the family of God, then we must humble ourselves now (Luke 14:11). Humility matters that much.” From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/christian-living/humility/

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Do It With Your Might

Ecclesiastes 9:10

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

Solomon’s writings repeatedly encourage diligence and hard work as necessary ingredients of success. (For more on this, see our article “How to Be Successful.”) Here the wise king adds the perspective that this life is short, and so we must apply our full efforts now. This passage may have been on the apostle Paul’s mind when he wrote, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23).

Many churches dispute Solomon’s assertion that “the dead know nothing” (Ecclesiastes 9:5) and that there is no knowledge or wisdom in the grave. The common teaching is that man has an immortal soul. But is this what the Bible teaches? For more on this, see our article “Immortal Soul.”  From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/do-it-with-your-might/

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Can We Eat To Starve Cancer?

^{Below is an approximation of this video’s audio content. To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Li may be referring, watch the above video. “So why should we care about blood vessels? Well, the human body is literally packed with them -- 60,000 miles worth in a typical adult. End to end, that would form a line that would circle the earth twice. The smallest blood vessels are called capillaries. We've got 19 billion of them in our bodies. And these are the vessels of life, and as I'll show you, they can also be the vessels of death. Now, the remarkable thing about blood vessels is that they have this ability to adapt to whatever environment they're growing in. For example, in the liver, they form channels to detoxify the blood; in the lungs, they line air sacs for gas exchange. In muscle, they corkscrew, so that muscles can contract without cutting off circulation. And in nerves, they course along like power lines, keeping those nerves alive.}

01:19

We get most of these blood vessels when we're actually still in the womb. And what that means is that as adults, blood vessels don't normally grow. Except in a few special circumstances. In women, blood vessels grow every month, to build the lining of the uterus. During pregnancy, they form the placenta, which connects mom and baby. And after injury, blood vessels actually have to grow under the scab in order to heal a wound. And this is actually what it looks like, hundreds of blood vessels, all growing toward the center of the wound.

01:53

So the body has the ability to regulate the amount of blood vessels that are present at any given time. It does this through an elaborate and elegant system of checks and balances, stimulators and inhibitors of angiogenesis, such that, when we need a brief burst of blood vessels, the body can do this by releasing stimulators, proteins called angiogenic factors, that act as natural fertilizer, and stimulate new blood vessels to sprout. When those excess vessels are no longer needed, the body prunes them back to baseline, using naturally-occurring inhibitors of angiogenesis. There are other situations where we start beneath the baseline, and we need to grow more blood vessels, just to get back to normal levels -- for example, after an injury -- and the body can do that too, but only to that normal level, that set point.

02:40

But what we now know, is that for a number of diseases, there are defects in the system, where the body can't prune back extra blood vessels, or can't grow enough new ones in the right place at the right time. And in these situations, angiogenesis is out of balance. And when angiogenesis is out of balance, a myriad of diseases result. For example, insufficient angiogenesis -- not enough blood vessels -- leads to wounds that don't heal, heart attacks, legs without circulation, death from stroke, nerve damage. And on the other end, excessive angiogenesis -- too many blood vessels -- drives disease, and we see this in cancer, blindness, arthritis, obesity, Alzheimer's disease. In total, there are more than 70 major diseases affecting more than a billion people worldwide, that all look on the surface to be different from one another, but all actually share abnormal angiogenesis as their common denominator. And this realization is allowing us to re-conceptualize the way that we actually approach these diseases, by controlling angiogenesis.

03:45

Now, I'm going to focus on cancer, because angiogenesis is a hallmark of cancer -- every type of cancer. So here we go. This is a tumor: dark, gray, ominous mass growing inside a brain. And under the microscope, you can see hundreds of these brown-stained blood vessels, capillaries that are feeding cancer cells, bringing oxygen and nutrients. But cancers don't start out like this, and in fact, cancers don't start out with a blood supply. They start out as small, microscopic nests of cells, that can only grow to one half a cubic millimeter in size. That's the tip of a ballpoint pen. Then they can't get any larger because they don't have a blood supply, so they don't have enough oxygen or nutrients.

04:28

In fact, we're probably forming these microscopic cancers all the time in our body. Autopsy studies from people who died in car accidents have shown that about 40 percent of women between the ages of 40 and 50 actually have microscopic cancers in their breasts. About 50 percent of men in their 50s and 60s have microscopic prostate cancers, and virtually 100 percent of us, by the time we reach our 70s, will have microscopic cancers growing in our thyroid. Yet, without a blood supply, most of these cancers will never become dangerous. Dr. Judah Folkman, who was my mentor and who was the pioneer of the angiogenesis field, once called this "cancer without disease."

05:14

So the body's ability to balance angiogenesis, when it's working properly, prevents blood vessels from feeding cancers. And this turns out to be one of our most important defense mechanisms against cancer. In fact, if you actually block angiogenesis and prevent blood vessels from ever reaching cancer cells, tumors simply can't grow up. But once angiogenesis occurs, cancers can grow exponentially. And this is actually how a cancer goes from being harmless, to being deadly. Cancer cells mutate, and they gain the ability to release lots of those angiogenic factors, natural fertilizer, that tip the balance in favor of blood vessels invading the cancer. And once those vessels invade the cancer, it can expand, it can invade local tissues, and the same vessels that are feeding tumors allow cancer cells to exit into the circulation as metastases. And unfortunately, this late stage of cancer is the one at which it's most likely to be diagnosed, when angiogenesis is already turned on, and cancer cells are growing like wild.

11:14

So to look for a way to prevent angiogenesis in cancer, I went back to look at cancer's causes. And what really intrigued me, was when I saw that diet accounts for 30 to 35 percent of environmentally-caused cancers. Now the obvious thing is to think about what we could remove from our diet, what to strip out, take away. But I actually took a completely opposite approach, and began asking: What could we be adding to our diet that's naturally antiangiogenic, and that could boost the body's defense system, and beat back those blood vessels that are feeding cancers? In other words, can we eat to starve cancer?”  

Excerpts from: https://www.ted.com/talks/william_li_can_we_eat_to_starve_cancer?

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None Wholly Destitute. Do You Really Know Our Creator God? Ten+ Commandments of Animal Parenthood.

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None Wholly Destitute

“Human life is precious.”

Jaime Top/Unsplash

“None are wholly destitute in the eyes of God, and often those who seem to have less really have more.

We differ in abilities, talents, intelligence levels and opportunity to develop our various gifts, but just as no person is pure genius, so too no person is wholly destitute of genius. The Bible refers to the "least" as though they are of great worth. God is looking for those who are lowly in heart (Matthew 11:29). Isaiah describes the might of God and then states that He will look on anyone who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at His word (Isaiah 66:2).

One would think that the wise of this world would realize how God sees things and be sure they fit into His description of one who is precious in His sight. However, the mighty, rich and powerful of this world do not seem to think they need God as much as the poor and lowly. Everything about us is known to God and the great equalizer is that He understands our innermost drives and thoughts. Therefore He regards slave or owner, man and woman, the small and the great with equal regard. None are wholly destitute in the eyes of God, and often those who seem to have less really have more.”  From:https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/blogs/this-is-the-way/none-wholly-destitute

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Do You Really Know Our Creator God?

“Does God exist? If so, who and what is He? These questions are too important for blind belief or scoffing dismissal. You can know, and you can know God!

Since the beginning, in times of trouble, loneliness, worry or deep contemplation, men and women have pondered the deep questions of life. Why are we here? What does it all mean? Is all that we go through just meaningless and futile? Or is there something more—something just outside of our abilities to discover?

Throughout history people have contemplated the possibility of supernatural beings who hold the keys to the mysteries of life.

Is there a God? Can we prove that He exists? If God does exist, why did He create us? Why doesn’t our Creator God make Himself so obvious that no one could doubt Him? Is He hiding from us, and if so, why?

What is God like? What are Read More...

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Ten+ Commandments of Animal Parenthood

• • My life is likely to last 10 to 20 years. Any separation from you will be very painful.
  • Give me time to understand what you want from me. Do not break my spirit with your temper, though I will always forgive you. Your patience will teach me more effectively.
  • Please have me spayed or neutered.
  • Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for your kindness than mine.
  • Donʼt be angry with me for long, and donʼt lock me up as punishment. After all, you have your job, your friends, your entertainment, I only have you.
  • Speak to me often. Even if I donʼt understand your world, I understand your voice when itʼs speaking to me. Your voice is the sweetest sound I ever hear, as you must know by my enthusiasm whenever I hear your footsteps.
  • Take me in when itʼs cold and wet. Iʼm a domestic animal and am no longer accustomed to the bitter elements. I ask for little more than your gentle hands petting me. Keep my bowl filled with water.
  • Feed me good food so that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding. By your side, I stand ready, willing and able to share my life with you, for that is what I live for.
  • Remember that I can’t do a lot of things by myself and that I depend on you to make my life a quality life!
  • Donʼt hit me. Remember, I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bite you.
  • Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps Iʼm not getting the right food, Iʼve been out in the sun too long, or my heart may be getting weak.
  • Take care of me when I get old. For you will grow old, too.
  • When I am old, or when I no loner enjoy good health, please do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I am not having fun. Just see to it that my trusting life is taken gently. And be with me on that difficult journey when itʼs time to say goodbye.
  • Never say, “I just canʼt bear to watch.” Everything is easier for me when you are there. I will leave this earth knowing with my last breath that my fate was always safest in your hands.
  • Iʼll never forget how well youʼve treated me.  I love you, human!
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Happy 4th. July To You All. What Can We Learn From the Surfside Condominium Collapse? Your Doctor Is Wrong About Insulin Resistance.

Independence Day,  The Origins of America

Happy 4th. July to you all

“As Americans celebrate Independence Day on July 4, we should all be looking forward to the great, spiritual day of deliverance coming when Jesus Christ returns.

  Stephanie McCabe/Unsplash

July 4th is a day of physical deliverance, but God's Kingdom will bring greater, spiritual deliverance to all people.

July 4 is the day the United States of America celebrates its independence from Great Britain. American President and founding father John Adams seemingly foretold the future when he wrote the following about Independence Day:

"I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more" (from the Massachusetts Historical Society).

And indeed, Independence Day is observed with family gatherings, firework displays, and the like. But can we trace the United States through history before July 4th, 1776? Did God somehow intervene in human history? And what can this tell us about America's future?

A declaration of independence and prosperity

"The Lord had said to Abram, 'Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you' " (Genesis 12:1; New Living Translation). God declared Abram's independence from his family and his former homeland. He promised Abram that "all the families on earth will be blessed through you," and the man who would be Abraham simply yet boldly did what God instructed (Genesis 12:3-4; NLT). The key take-away is that Abraham's descendants would be so blessed and prosperous that not only they would benefit, but the rest of the world as well.

A few generations later, we see Abraham's grandson Israel blessing his own grandchildren, Ephraim and Manasseh. As Israel (also called Jacob) reached the end of his life, we read an interesting prophecy about his grandchildren. Notice what Israel says in Genesis 48:19: "'He [Manasseh, the firstborn brother] also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother [Ephraim] shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.' "

Based on this verse, we can begin to identify Ephraim as the British Commonwealth ("a multitude of nations") and Manasseh as the United States of America (a "great" people). For an in-depth look at the connection between these modern nations and ancient families, please consider reading The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy, one of our free study aids.

Upon reflection, I'm sure you can see many ways in which God has blessed the United States, and how America has in turn benefited the world. But what does the future hold for the modern descendants of Manasseh?

A problem and a promise

The prophet Micah spoke of Manasseh's future in Micah 5:9: "Your hand shall be lifted against your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off." This mark of military success and preeminence is something the United States still currently enjoys. But a dramatic change is coming.

"'And it shall be in that day,' says the LORD, 'that I will cut off your horses from your midst and destroy your chariots. I will cut off the cities of your land and throw down all your strongholds' " (Micah 5:10-11). God will revoke the blessing of His protection from America, and the United States will suffer unprecedented defeat--even captivity--at the hands of its enemies. "'Thus I will destroy your cities' " (Micah 5:14).

National security is a blessing that God grants for obedience (Leviticus 26:1-8). When nations are sinful, however, God's face is against them and they endure defeat at their enemies' hands (Leviticus 26:14-17). Even your seemingly tiny, individual sins contribute to this catastrophe.

The problem is sin--and the solution to that problem is repentance. "Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away" (Acts 3:19; NLT). If America as a nation repents and turns to God, He will remember His blessings for obedience and grant them further to the United States. Unfortunately, this is unlikely.

Despite this apparent disaster, there is a final promise to all people everywhere: the Kingdom of God. Although great trouble is prophesied to come before Jesus' return (Matthew 24:21), He will save the peoples of the earth. He will bring Israel back to the land He originally intended for them to have. God will teach them His law and grant them His Spirit so they can better understand and live out this law. "You shall be My people, and I will be your God" (Ezekiel 36:24-28).

July 4th is a day of physical deliverance, but God's Kingdom will bring greater, spiritual deliverance to all people. The people of America will finally be dependent on God as He intended, and they will be free from the dark grasp of sin. Imagine the wonderful celebrations that this future Independence Day will bring.    From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/blogs/independence-day-the-origins-of-america

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What Can We Learn From the Surfside Condominium Collapse?

“Tragedy struck Florida last week when a large condo building unexpectedly collapsed in the middle of the night. What lessons should we learn from this disaster?

The Champlain Towers condominium buildings are a complex of three buildings in Surfside, Florida, with a beautiful view of the ocean. However, on Thursday, June 24, at about 1:30 in the morning, tragedy struck.

In the middle of the night the 12-story south tower, which had 136 condominium units, collapsed without warning. Chilling video captured by a nearby security camera revealed that it took only seconds for a major portion of the south tower to become a pile of rubble. In the aftermath of the collapse, the scene looked as if the building had been destroyed by a powerful bomb.

As of the time of the time of publishing, 16 people have been confirmed dead in the collapse. However, there are still over 140 people unaccounted for. Search and rescue teams are tirelessly combing through the rubble as quickly as they can, battling the heat and dangerous conditions, but the odds of finding more survivors grows dimmer by the hour. Our prayers are with the families who wait with hope against hope to receive positive news of their loved ones.

The investigations, accusations and recriminations will likely go on for months and years. No one yet knows the exact cause of the collapse. Perhaps it was negligence, inadequate maintenance, or even a sinkhole or unexpected subsurface shifting that caused the building to fall.

Whatever the cause, it doesn’t change the sudden and unexpected outcome for the victims. In the blink of an eye, their hopes and dreams and plans for the future came to an abrupt end.

What did Jesus say about tragedies?

In Luke 13:4 Jesus made a statement about a tragedy that was very similar to what happened in Florida. During His time, a tower in a Jerusalem neighborhood called Siloam collapsed and killed 18 people. Some scholars believe this was a tower built by the pool of Siloam for men who were going through the process of ritual purification. If this is true, these 18 men may have been in that area to perform a religious ceremony, but suddenly had their lives cut short when the tower collapsed on top of them.

Jesus was using the tragedy to highlight the necessity of personal repentance.Here are Christ’s words about the tragedy: “Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (verses 4-5).

Jesus’ point was clear. When these kinds of tragedies occur, it is not because God specifically targeted the victims for somehow being worse than everyone else who survived. There is an element of time and chance at work in our world. The point is that we all equally need to repent, or we will perish. Jesus was using the tragedy to highlight the necessity of personal repentance.

In the aftermath of this current tragedy in Florida, we can reflect on the same lesson that Jesus asked His audience to think about 2,000 years ago. We can put a renewed focus on repenting of our sins. To do that, we must identify what our sins are, ask for God’s forgiveness and strive to change. To learn more about this crucial subject, read our article “What Is Repentance?”

Life is frail and uncertain

Another lesson we should learn from the Florida tragedy is the frailty and uncertainty of life.

Notice these words penned by King David: “LORD, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah. Surely every man walks about like a shadow; surely they busy themselves in vain; he heaps up riches, and does not know who will gather them. And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You” (Psalm 39:4-7).

When we see how quickly and easily our lives can end, it should inspire us to look to our Creator for meaning and purpose.  Tragedies can help remind us of the truth of these words. It’s easy to become arrogant or comfortable. We can look to ourselves and our accomplishments for meaning. But we need to temper our thoughts with the truth that our lives are like vapor in the grand scheme of things. We are here for a little bit and then gone. All it takes is a random tragedy to end our lives at any moment.

James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ, was inspired to write something very similar: “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil” (James 4:13-16).

When we see how quickly and easily our lives can end, it should inspire us to look to our Creator for meaning and purpose. We can build an appropriate kind of confidence when we live our lives in a manner that pleases our Father in heaven. When we live that way, we can faithfully place our lives in His hands and trust His will for our lives.

For the residents of the Champlain Towers South and their families, a few seconds in the dark of the night changed everything.  Will we heed the lessons God wants us to learn from such tragedies?"  From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/blog/what-can-we-learn-from-the-surfside-condominium-collapse/?

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Your Doctor Is Wrong About Insulin Resistance

"Isn't it CRAZY when something is super important and yet everything you're told about it is wrong. Your doctor will tell you tell you year after year that you're is fine, but then suddenly you have a disease? When they focus on the wrong thing, you waste decades of precious time. Find out why Your Doctor Is Wrong About Insulin Resistance."

See YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BI-rlA6TBQ

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