Even right after Oct 7‚ Rep. Raskin';s statement warned Israel not to go too aggressively after Hamas.The post Ahead of Iran Attack‚ Rep. Jamie Raskin Calls for No More Weapons for Israel appeared first on Frontpage Mag.

Has Biden learned nothing from Nixon?The post DOJ Refuses to Turn Over Biden Tape on Grounds that Congress is Mean appeared first on Frontpage Mag.

When a loved oneis struggling with depression‚ its easy to feel helpless. However‚ you do not need to be a therapist to make a significant difference. According to Boston-based therapist and depression specialist Alexandra Vlahakes‚ PsyD‚ There are things you‚ as a friend‚ can do to support your pals mental health. Here are five actionable strategies to show there for a loved one during their lowest moments:Opening the conversation: how to express concern without judgmentStarting a conversation about depression might be intimidating‚ but its critical to approach it with sensitivity and understanding. Dr. Vlahakes recommends starting gradually‚ expressing gratitude for their openness‚ or subtly highlighting behavioral changes. By offering a safe space for communication‚ you allow your friend to disclose their struggles without fear of being judged.Active listening: the power of being present without offering solutionsWhen your friend confides in you‚ resist the impulse to provide fast solutions. Clinical psychologist Lauren Moy‚ PhD‚ emphasizes the significance of active listening‚ stating that merely being there and validating their emotions can be quite helpful. Rather than leaping into problem-solving mode‚ try to empathize with their experiences and make them feel heard and appreciated.Inclusion matters: keeping your friend connected even ifthey withdrawDepression frequently causes social disengagement‚ yet being connected is critical for your friends well-being. Dr. Vlahakes highlights the importance of continuing to include them in planning and activities‚ even if they decrease or appear inactive. Your attempts to keep connected express a sense of worth and belonging‚ which provides consolation in times of solitude.Acts of kindness: lightening the load through practical assistancePractical help can help someone suffering from depression cope with the crushing strain of daily tasks. Dr. Vlahakes recommends offering to help with housework or errands‚ noting that even tiny gestures can make a big difference. Whether youre providing their favorite coffee or assisting with housework‚ your thoughtfulness communicates concern and compassion.Encourage professional help: navigating resources for long-term supportWhile you can offer emotional support‚ it is critical that you encourage your loved one to seek professional care for long-term depression treatment. Dr. Moy underscores the significance of setting boundaries and acknowledging your limitations. Refer them to mental health resources such as therapy directories or low-cost clinics‚ and offer practical aid in navigating available options.Finally‚ overcoming depression requires a diverse strategy‚ and your position as a caring friend is important. By providing empathy‚ validation‚ and practical aid‚ you give your friend a source of strength as they travel their route to healing.The post 5 small and practical ways to support a friend through depression first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

In their search for weight loss remedies‚ researchers discovered an unexpected ally: kombucha tea. This ancient fermented elixir‚ which has a contentious flavor‚ is now emerging as a possible game changer in metabolic health. A recent study conducted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill demonstrates how kombuchas probiotic microorganisms may hold the key to unlocking fat reduction‚ duplicating the effects of fasting without requiring dietary restrictions.Unlocking the science: kombucha teas microbial magicAt the center of kombuchas transformational potential is the SCOBY‚ a symbiotic blend of bacteria and yeast. These probiotic microorganisms‚ which include Acetobacter‚ Lactobacillus‚ and Komagataeibacter species‚ work together to ferment the tea‚ resulting in a blend with numerous health benefits. Previous studies have connected these microorganisms to a wide range of advantages‚ including blood pressure regulation and intestinal health.Fasting without fasting: the surprising resultsThe study‚ which used the model organism C. elegans‚ offers light on kombuchas dramatic effect on fat metabolism. Researchers discovered that the introduction of kombuchas microbial flora caused significant changes in intestinal gene expression‚ notably in genes involved in fat breakdown. We were surprised to find that animals consuming a diet consisting of the probiotic microbes found in kombucha tea displayed reduced fat accumulation‚ lower triglyceride levels‚ and smaller lipid droplets‚ the studys authors wrote.From lab to life: implications for human healthAlthough the study was conducted on worms‚ experts are enthusiastic about the findings application to human health. The fasting-like state caused by kombucha bacteria shows promise for people looking for successful weight loss techniques. However‚ more research is needed to validate these effects in human beings. Our findings offer exciting insights into possible mechanisms of kombucha tea microbe-mediated host metabolic reprogramming‚ the studys authors stated.Kombuchas wellness odyssey: differentiating fact from fictionKombuchas transformation from an ancient drink to a modern-day health tonic has been met with both praise and skepticism. While recent research shows that it has anti-inflammatory‚ antioxidant‚ and antibacterial properties‚ there is conflicting information about its overall health benefits. As researchers explore deeper into kombuchas metabolic pathways‚ their understanding of its function in human health will definitely improve.Finally‚ the studys findings suggest new ways to utilize kombucha teas therapeutic potential. As researchcontinues‚ people struggling with weight loss may find hope in the natural power of kombucha. While the specific significance of kombucha in human health remains unknown‚ one thing is certain: its probiotic properties continue to pique the interest of scientists and health enthusiasts alike.Source study: PLOS GeneticsKombucha Tea-associated microbes remodel host metabolic pathways to suppress lipid accumulationThe post Could kombucha teas microbial magic be the secret to effortless weight loss? first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

So much of your experience of a situation depends on whos with you.My wife and I recently had a great date night. It was nice outside‚ so we wandered around to find a place with outdoor seating‚ the right ambience‚ and delicious food. We finally settled on a Mexican restaurant.The food was fine‚ but that wasnt what made the night so enjoyable. I couldve gone to the best restaurant around‚ but if I were alone or with someone else‚ it wouldnt have been nearly as good as the meal I shared with my wife. What made the night precious was being in her presence. A meal is so much sweeter when youre with someone you love and who loves you.Seek JoyThat night reminds me of Psalm 16‚ a meditation on the blessing of life in Gods presence‚ the presence of One who loves you far more than you could ever knowand who wants you to love him in return. We think joy is about finding the best food‚ but its about the person with whom we share the meal.Psalm 16 is a crescendo of blessings‚ each building on the last as David recounts the astonishing joy of life in Gods presence.1. The Blessing of CommunityDavid first speaks of the blessing of community: As for the saints in the land‚ they are the excellent ones‚ in whom is all my delight (v. 3).Communitys blessing could be help in a time of need‚ like when I was incapacitated by a bike accident and a family from my church took me in and cared for me. It could be an encouraging text from a friend‚ or a listening ear. One blessing of life in Gods presence is the shared presence of other believers‚ particularly within the covenant community of a local church.2. The Blessing of InheritanceAlluding to the allotment of the promised land to the 12 tribes‚ David tells us we have an inheritance that far surpasses even the choicest earthly inheritance (vv. 56). Our inheritance is God himself.Imagine you get word tomorrow that youve inherited a billion dollars. What thoughts would flood your mind? How would you react? Itd certainly change my perspective on life. I probably wouldnt spend time comparing toothpaste prices to ensure I got the best deal. I wouldnt worry about saving enough for my kids college or retirement. Id trust were provided for.Your inheritance in the Lord is far greater. How much has it changed your perspective on life?Does it give you peace to know God sees you and will provide for all your needs? Does it still your heart to know he delights to bless you as his beloved daughter or son? In doubt or uncertainty‚ does it reassure you to remember the future you have with him? Does it bring you joyful awe to consider being in his presence‚ blanketed with his glory and love for all eternity?3. The Blessing of CounselThe psalm continues to rise as David reflects on the blessing of Gods counsel: I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me (v. 7).Does it give you peace to know God sees you and will provide for all your needs?When I was in college‚ pursuing a degree in classical guitar performance‚ I felt surprisingly unfulfilled. Eventually‚ I sought Gods guidance‚ and he redirected me toward pastoral ministry. It took time‚ but in the following years‚ he grew my confidence in that decision (largely through input from others) and my peace in his counsel. Reflecting on those years‚ I cant help but bless the Lord who gives me counsel. I sought him‚ and he answered.Maybe youve experienced the same heart-searching that keeps you up at night as youve sought Gods will about a relationship‚ or a vocational crossroads‚ or a big moving decision‚ or the way to talk with a wandering child. As the Lord gives you counsel‚ bless him for it.4. The Blessing of StrengthNext‚ David blesses God for the strength he supplies: I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand‚ I shall not be shaken (v. 8).The right hand symbolizes power in battle. David is recalling times God was with him to bring victory over his enemies.And the same God with David when his life was in danger is with you when your marriage is on the rocks. The same God helping the lowly shepherd to defeat Goliath is with you when you feel inadequate at work or home. The same God with David when men sought to take his life is with you when the economy takes a hit or a coworker has it out for you.Cry out to him in the night‚ for the Lord is with you‚ fighting on your behalf. Because hes at your right hand‚ you wont be shaken.5. The Blessing in DeathDavid reaches a climax of praise as he declares Gods blessing even in death:You will not abandon my soul to Sheol‚or let your holy one see corruption.You make known to me the path of life;in your presence there is fullness of joy;at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (vv. 1011)Someone recently called to tell me a friend died unexpectedly at just 54 years old. Shortly after was the anniversary of the death of two of my grandparents. As I reflect on those deaths‚ Im saddened. But I mourn with hope‚ trusting that God will not abandon to the grave those whove made him their refuge.As great as Gods presence can be‚ were still in exile. Our joy is just a taste of what my grandfather‚ for example‚ now experiences at home with the Lord. His pain has turned to pleasures forevermore. And that same glorious homecoming‚ believer‚ awaits you if you trust in him.Behold the Greater DavidWe deserve none of these blessings. We want a life filled with joy‚ but our hearts turn from God and run after other things. For that‚ we deserve for our sorrow to multiply (v. 4). But because of what Christ has done‚ all the blessings of this psalm are yours.As Peter preached on Pentecost‚ this psalm is ultimately a prophecy about Jesus (Acts 2:2528). In the end‚ both David and Jesus experienced death‚ but neither was abandoned to Sheol. And Jesus‚ the faithful Son of God‚ was raised on the third day.We deserve none of these blessings. We want a life filled with joy‚ but our hearts turn from God and run after other things.Jesus never ran after other gods. He didnt take their names on his lips but took our sorrows on himself. Jesus was shaken that you‚ through all the storms of life‚ might dwell with him securely. Jesus tasted death that you might live forever at his right hand. Jesus is the One who fully delights in the saints. So fully that he gave his life to share with you the inheritance he earned by right.Hes given us his Spirit as the guarantee of that inheritance‚ pouring out his Spirit on the church at Pentecost. Christs Spirit is Gods presence in you‚ the key to eternal fullness of joy.

As a Christian‚ you probably feel at times like a stranger in a strange land. And youve considered how to respond. Should you retreat in cultural isolation? Or should you engage in political aggression to take back what youve lost?Either option can be warranted depending on the situation. More than anything else‚ though‚ we need hope when were far from home. We need encouragement and insight from the men and women of Scripture‚ both the Old and New Testaments. Because Gods people have been faithful through the ages in the face of hostility‚ they can help us with everything from how we worship to when we protest. They show us how those with hope beyond this world can be faithful in it.This is the premise behind a new book‚ Faithful Exiles: Finding Hope in a Hostile World‚ published by The Gospel Coalition and edited by Ivan Mesa and Elliot Clark. The chapter on apologetics was written by Claude Atcho‚ pastor of Church of the Resurrection in Charlottesville‚ Virginia. He previously served as a pastor in Boston and Memphis and wrote the book Reading Black Books: How African American Literature Can Make our Faith More Whole and Just. Claude features the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 in Faithful Exiles‚ and he explains how her example can inspire us as we testify to Christ‚ even in todays hostile world.Claude writes‚ Our witness or apologetics will have no pulse and no power apart from a life-giving experience with Christ that shapes us‚ day after day. Claude joined me on Gospelbound to discuss the transformative power of personal encounters with Jesus‚ evangelism‚ how the gospel changed his life‚ and more.

Many democratic countries have adopted a system where proposed new laws must be voted on‚ reviewed‚ and amended by many people before they can be enforced. At times‚ such systems can seem frustratingly slow‚ but this list will show that there is a very good reason for their thoroughness. There have been many cases where []The post 10 Unbelievable Times Laws Had Unintended Consequences appeared first on Listverse.

Rome never changes. The Roman Catholic Church affirms that it does not change its doctrines. Critics disagree‚ pointing out how the faith of contemporary Catholics differs from what was believed and practiced just 60 years ago. Looking further back in time‚ we can see that the medieval Church of the imperious Pope Innocent III is []The post 10 Biggest Turnarounds by the Catholic Church appeared first on Listverse.