The Reason You're Tested Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. – James 1:2-3 Valuable things are often tested to prove that they're genuine. When you go to a bank and give a $100 bill to the teller, she holds it up to the light. Why? Because she's looking for a watermark of authenticity – testing it to make sure it's genuine. One pastor shares that when he visited The Philippines years ago, the government didn't yet have the technology to add watermarks to the currency. So instead, the bank tellers would hold the money close to the light and then examine the pictures that were printed on them. This pastor was curious, so he got up the nerve to ask one of the bank tellers how to know that the money is genuine by just looking at it. The teller told him that if the hair of the man pictured on the currency is not combed perfectly, then the dollar is counterfeit. Things that have value need to be tested – and that includes your faith. When God allows challenges to come your way – whether it's your health, a struggle with grief, or tough financial times – He's holding you up to the light to show the world your faith is genuine. The faith that is not tested is the faith that can't be trusted. So when you're being tested, let the light of God shine through you so the world can see His mark on your life! Prayer Challenge: Ask God to give you a rock-solid, genuine faith that will withstand any test that comes your way. Visit the Senior Living Ministries website The post The Reason You’re Tested – Senior Living – July 23 appeared first on GodUpdates.

1711 - Treaty of Pruth signed ending the Russo-Turkish War (1710-11), Azoz port returned to Ottoman control 1777 - Polish military leader Casimir Pulaski arrives in Marblehead, Massachusetts, to volunteer in the Continental Army cavalry 1834 - HMS Beagle anchors in Bay of Valparaiso (Chile) 1852 - Private John Brown becomes the 1st interment in the National Cemetery at the Presidio in San Francisco, California 1862 - President Lincoln names Army of the Potomac Gen. Henry Halleck as US Army General-in-Chief 1930 - Pitts Pie Traynor ends both games with HRs (1st in 9th, 2nd in 13th) 1966 - Cavern Club in Liverpool reopens 1967 - 54th Tour de France won by Roger Pingeon of France 2009 - 42nd San Diego Comic-Con International opens at San Diego Convention Center 2014 - 44 people are killed after TransAsia Airways Flight 222 crashed into buildings in Taiwan More Historical Events »

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Talking about consent with kids might be daunting, or at the very least, super awkward. But, it doesn’t have to be. The key is to start early and encourage regular communication about the topic. We know that when it comes to these kinds of topics, it’s much easier said than done. With this simple step-by-step guide for discussing consent, you’ll be given the tools to keep the consent conversation going with your children as they grow from toddlers to teenagers. The expert behind the guide Dr. Nan Wise is a registered sex therapist, relationship specialist, neuroscience researcher, and the author of Why Good Sex Matters: Understanding the Neuroscience of Pleasure for a Smarter, Happier, and More Purposeful Life. Dr. Wise’s research has received international attention for addressing gaps in the literature on the neurological basis of human sexuality. The basics: what is consent? According to Dr. Wise, consent is when a person “makes a conscious and unambiguous decision regarding what they are willing to participate in, whether it’s related to mutually agreed-upon sex or anything else having to do with their bodies.” She underlines that consent must be given voluntarily, without compulsion, and that consent may be rescinded at any time. “Consent can be withdrawn at any point, and the activity needs to stop immediately,” she asserts. Consent can be expressed vocally with a clear declaration or nonverbally with a head nod or thumbs up. However, Dr. Wise points out that “if the consent is communicated nonverbally, it’s important that both parties are clear on what’s being communicated, as people may read body language differently.” What does not count as consent? Dr. Wise identifies various instances that do not constitute consent. Obtaining approval for one type of activity does not constitute consent for all activities. Physical resistance without a verbal ‘no’ is not considered consent. Flirting or wearing exposing clothing doesn’t count as consent. Simply enjoying an activity does not constitute consent. Consent is revocable, which means that a person can change their mind even after an activity has begun. How to talk about consent with kids “The most important thing is that this conversation should happen numerous times as a child grows and develops and should be updated and expanded in age-appropriate ways,” explains Dr. Wise. This means that the conversation is not a one-and-done type of thing. For young children Begin by teaching young children about physical autonomy and the proper terminology for the parts of the body. Dr. Wise suggests teaching friends and family about respecting children’s limits. If someone attempts to violate children’s bodily autonomy, they should understand that it is not their fault and should report it to a trusted adult. These conversations should start early. “Begin by teaching the correct vocabulary for body parts and focusing on communicating the concepts of bodily autonomy and independence,” Dr. Wise says. For elementary and middle school students As your kids develop, continue the conversation with reminders about limits in a variety of scenarios. Dr. Wise proposed emphasizing that hugs between friends and family members are acceptable but not required, whereas embraces from strangers are unacceptable. She also suggests that rough-and-tumble play is OK if both people agree and enjoy it. For teenagers When children enter the teen years, the talk should become more in-depth. Dr. Wise emphasizes the significance of educating teenagers in a way that combats sexism and misogyny. “Stamp out harmful narratives, like that men should always want sex and will always push boundaries or that women are gatekeepers rather than equal sexual beings with their own wants and desires,” she says. This clarifies the consent process and encourages positive, respectful interactions. How should you ask for consent? Regardless of age, seeking consent should be simple and straightforward. Dr. Wise recommends statements like “Can I _____?” and “Do you want me to _____?” Listening closely to the response is critical. She recommends that teens learn to pay attention to their partner’s comfort level and check in on a frequent basis. “If someone says yes but doesn’t seem comfortable, check in again,” she advises. Why is it important to discuss consent? “Communicating about sex helps people have good boundaries and good connections,” explains Dr. Wise. Starting these conversations early allows children to feel comfortable discussing these concerns and make educated judgments about their boundaries. According to Dr. Wise, trouble discussing sex is a frequent issue, making it critical to normalize these conversations. “This ongoing communication connection with us as parents and eventually for them with their partners is the foundation of relational and sexual well-being.” Teaching children about consent is an ongoing process that changes as they mature. Starting early and discussing it will help your children learn and respect their own boundaries as well as those of others.The post Don’t know how to talk about consent with your kids? Here’s what a sex therapist has to say first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM As summer ends in the Canadian Arctic, polar bears begin their trip inward, waiting for the ice to form. While tourists rush to see these gorgeous creatures, researchers are developing novel strategies to avoid hazardous confrontations between humans and bears. New tracking devices designed to attach to polar bear fur could revolutionize animal monitoring and ensure both species’ safety. Monitoring polar bears from afar With Arctic sea ice melting faster than ever before, polar bears are spending more time on land, prompting fears about more human-bear encounters. The tracking tags, which have been successfully tested on bears in the Canadian Arctic, are intended to “keep a remote eye” on their travels, potentially preventing unexpected confrontations.  Tyler Ross, a PhD candidate at York University in Toronto and the project’s chief researcher, emphasized the tags’ potential for minimizing human-bear interactions. “These tags are particularly promising for the prevention of human-bear interactions,” Ross said. Bears that approach too closely in southern Canadian Arctic towns often get relocated. The new tags could be attached to these bears to track their movements after release, providing conservationists with real-time data to intervene if bears approach human settlements again. Innovative tagging tech Traditional tracking measures, such as collars, are unsuccessful for male polar bears because their heads are smaller than their necks, allowing collars to slip off. Another option is to utilize ear tags, which entail recapturing the animal and can occasionally result in harm. The new fur tags, created by 3M in conjunction with Polar Bears International, provide a noninvasive option. Among the three tags tested, the SeaTrkr tag performed the best. Crimped into the bears’ fur, it remained attached for an average of 58 days and provided exact location data via an in-built GPS device. “It’s ideal to have something that falls off naturally and isn’t permanently attached to the bear,” Ross explained. “But anything that lasts in the order of a few months would be great for our research.” Filling gaps in the research The new tracking device could help us understand polar bear migrations better, especially as the Arctic climate warms. “There’s a dearth of information about male polar bear movements because they can’t be equipped with conventional tracking collars,” Ross explained. With sea ice melting quicker and the winter hunting season shorter, understanding how bears adapt is more important than ever. A 2022 US Geological Survey study employing satellite monitoring collars on nearly 400 polar bears in Alaska discovered that their time onshore had increased dramatically in recent decades. This shift emphasizes the importance of tracking their movements to avoid dangers. “Getting a better sense of polar bears’ movements is really crucial,” Ross commented. “Particularly given the state of their environment at this point.” Implications for conservation The findings, published in the journal Animal Biotelemetry, show that these novel tags have the potential to increase our understanding of polar bear behavior and help conservation efforts. As climate change brings bears and humans closer together, these tags could become an important tool for guaranteeing their protection. The capacity to track bears accurately and non-invasively opens up new options for conservation measures. Knowing where bears are likely to move allows wildlife officials to take preventive measures to keep them away from human populations, lowering the likelihood of conflict. As Ross and his team work to optimize these tags, their objective remains clear: to find long-term solutions to coexist with one of the Arctic’s most iconic inhabitants. Source study: Animal Biotelemetry—Telemetry without collars: performance of fur- and ear-mounted satellite tags for evaluating the movement and behaviour of polar bearsThe post Innovative tracking technology strives to keep wild polar bears and humans apart  first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

Is there a Bible verse that keeps coming to mind? Are you unable to get it out of your head? Maybe God is putting it there for good reason. Pray and ask Him what He wants you to know.

The trophy is coming home to South Beach