After repeated controversies‚ National Public Radio is earning some attention from several U.S. senators who are blasting the tax-funded network for its massive &;quot;ethical failures&;quot; with its obvious left-wing political bias. The senators are speaking out in the wake of the outlet's elevation of hard-core left-wing activist Katherine Maher to...

Becoming great by getting out of your puddle The LORD said to Abram‚ &;quot;Go from your country‚ your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation‚ and I will bless you; I will make your name great‚ and you will be a blessing.&;quot; – Genesis 12:1-2 You might be surprised to learn that if you catch a small shark and confine it‚ it will stay a size proportionate to the aquarium you put it in. Sharks can be six inches long yet fully matured. But if you let them loose in the ocean‚ they will grow to their normal length. Sadly‚ this is what happens spiritually to many Christians today. They grow up in church‚ never get out of the &;quot;culture of Christianity&;quot;‚ and they live their whole lives never being challenged in their faith. This leads to stunted growth... resulting in generations of Christians who never reach their full potential&;#33; Yes‚ the world is filled with little six-inch Christians who swim around in their puddle. You can look at them and comment on how fine they are. But if you were to put them out into a larger arena into the broad view of a whole creation‚ much like God did to Abram in today's passage‚ they might become so much greater. God will help us not to be confined to a little puddle out of fear or insecurity‚ but instead to see that Jesus Christ is Lord of all. If we will have internal integrity and relate to the larger world in the ways He has ordained‚ we will be able to grow and serve Him in ways we've never imagined&;#33; Prayer Challenge Pray and ask God to show you where you can step out of your puddle and become great for Christ&;#33; Visit the Senior Living Ministries website The post Becoming Great By Getting Out of Your Puddle – Senior Living – April 30 appeared first on GodUpdates.

April 30‚ 2024

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The best albums from the Nashville label that brought together rock'n'roll and soul

A recent scientific study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment demonstrates that a small change in lawn maintenance habits can have a significant impact on butterfly populations‚ providing hope for conservation efforts and helpful information for gardeners who want to help local wildlife. Yes‚ that’s right folks‚ #NoMowMay begins tomorrow and this year we have even more research that points to the benefits of long lawns. Dr. Richard Fox‚ head of science at Butterfly Conservation and a co-author of the study highlights the findings’ significance: “This study proves‚ for the first time‚ that allowing a patch of grass to grow long will attract more butterflies into your garden.” Let’s dig deeper into the ramifications of this research and look at practical strategies to construct butterfly-friendly habitats in your yard. The science of wild lawns and butterflies After analyzing six years of butterfly observations in 600 British gardens‚ researchers identified a striking correlation: gardens with tall grass had much more butterflies than those with routinely kept lawns. Dr. Fox emphasizes the importance of this phenomenon: “Long grass in gardens attracts more butterfly species whose caterpillars feed on grasses.” This suggests that rewilded lawns provide an important breeding habitat for butterflies‚ which contributes to their population expansion. Ivy: the secret weapon of urban butterfly gardens One of the study’s primary conclusions is that flowering ivy has a favorable impact on butterfly abundance. The presence of flowering ivy boosted the numbers of the holly blue butterfly‚ whose caterpillars live off of ivy and holly. It also boosted the numbers of the red admiral and comma‚ as both species benefit from its flowers which provide an abundant source of nectar in the fall. Gardeners can supply important supplies for butterflies throughout the year by adding ivy into urban landscapes‚ maintaining their lifecycle‚ and increasing overall biodiversity. Practical tips for creating butterfly-friendly spaces Gardeners who want to help butterfly populations can use wildlife-friendly grass care strategies. Dr. Fox encourages gardeners to go above and beyond #NoMowMay. “If you take part in #NoMowMay our message is‚ don’t just mow your grass in June‚” he says. However‚ for the best results‚ long grass has to be kept until late September or October. This method resembles natural meadow management approaches‚ allowing butterfly species to complete their lifecycles unhindered. By doing less‚ gardeners may build thriving homes for butterflies and other pollinators by extending lawn maintenance timeframes and prioritizing biodiversity. The study’s findings give persuasive evidence that simple modifications in gardening practices can have a large impact on butterfly populations. Individuals can contribute significantly to biodiversity conservation and ecological support by adopting wilder lawns and adding native plant species into urban environments.The post Attention lazy gardeners&;#33; Why doing less can boost butterfly populations in your garden first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.