Growing up doesn’t mean not being a kid anymore. People like Anastasia Zhalii remind us this is true with the use of their creativity. In fact, Anastasia has turned her love of bubbles into an entire career! According to her social media bios, she is a Bubble Magician. Once you see her in action, you’ll understand why that title is so fitting! This has been Anastasia’s career for over seven years. In that time, she has found numerous unique ways to create and play with bubbles. A more recent method involves making bubbles with a special umbrella. See for yourself in the magical video below! @atlantabubbleshow Bubble umbrella #bubbleshow #AnastasiaBubbleShow #AtlantaBubbleShow #BubbleMagic #FemaleMagician #BubbleLady ♬ Life is Beautiful – Deep Music “You gotta turn this into a photo shoot. I bet it would come out so amazing,” someone suggests in reply to Anastasia’s video. Another person shares how so many other parents must feel: “How my toddler would literally loose his mind for one — tech us.” Bubble Magician’s Creative Use of an Umbrella, Fan, and More Will Have You Feeling Like a Little Kid Again This special-made umbrella is far from the only method this Bubble Magician uses at events. She also knows exactly how to use a fan in order to put on an incredibly breathtaking show. See for yourself! @atlantabubbleshow #bubbleshow #bubblemagicmoment #bubbleartistry #AtlantaBubbleShow #BubblePerformer #FemaleMagician #fox5 #illusion #BubbleLady #agt #millionairesmagician #luxury #bubbleArtist #BubbleQueen #BubbleFairy #bubbleology #CircusArts #PerformingArts #TheaterShow #producer #magicbubble #bulle #burbujas #reels #reelsinstagram ♬ original sound – atlanta bubble show Anastasia’s job is so amazing, folks are asking, “Where were you at career day?” It’s so fun to see the mesmerized looks on children‘s faces as they watch her bubble filled performance. That said, it’s clear that us adults are just as amazed! @atlantabubbleshow #anastasiabubblemagician #BubbleShow #BubbleMagic #BubbleArt #TheBubbleQueen #AnastasiaBubbleQueen #BubbleIllusions #UnforgettableMoments #atlantabubbleshow #LuxuryEvent ♬ Pure Imagination – Superhuman How does one go about learning they have the talent for this sort of thing? In any case, it goes to show what magic can be created when we hold onto that innate creativity we all have as children. The world doesn’t have to stop being a magical place just because we get older! In fact, I’d argue that getting older is all the more reason to find little ways to infuse magic in our everyday lives. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here! The post Creative Woman Captures Unique And Beautiful Way To Create Clouds Of Bubbles appeared first on InspireMore.

Ascension Day seems to be the Cinderella of the church calendar. Christmas grabs our attention since it celebrates the incarnation of God’s Son, bringing joy to the world. On Good Friday, we recall our Savior’s sacrifice in sober gratitude. Easter stirs us to exult in his triumph over death. Pentecost, though lacking the high visibility of those three, at least falls on a Sunday and memorializes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to empower all God’s people for service. Big events, deserving repeated remembrance! But do we even notice Ascension Day, which annually tiptoes by on a Thursday (May 29 in 2025, in case you wondered)? Do we pause to marvel at the message of Jesus’s ascent in a cloud to God’s right hand in heaven, the event that forms the indispensable bridge between Easter and Pentecost? We’ll grasp how momentous the ascension’s message is when we reflect on the Old Testament’s influence in Luke’s account in Acts 1–2. Three ancient scriptures cast their light on Jesus’s climactic bodily departure from earth: Elijah’s ascent to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2), Daniel’s vision of “one like a son of man” approaching the Ancient of Days on heaven’s clouds (Dan. 7), and the enthronement of David’s Lord at God’s right hand (Ps. 110). Elijah Ascends and Elisha Receives the Spirit (2 Kings 2) Throughout his Gospel, Luke traced the divinely designed relationship of parallel and pattern (typology) between the prophets Elijah and Elisha, on the one hand, and Jesus as God’s climactic prophet, on the other. For example, as those prophets brought God’s saving grace to a bereaved Phoenician widow and to a Syrian commander (Luke 4:24–29; 1 Kings 17:8–16; 2 Kings 5:1–14; see 2 Kings 4:18–37), so Jesus extended life-giving grace to a Roman centurion and to a bereaved widow when he raised her son from death and “gave him to his mother” (Luke 7:1–16). As Elisha fed 100 with 20 loaves, so Jesus fed more than 5,000 with 5—with leftovers on both occasions (2 Kings 4:42–44; Luke 9:10–17). Jesus’s ascension continues the link between those prophetic “shadows” and their eschatological fulfillment in Christ. Just as Elijah “was taken up in a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11, author’s translation), so also Jesus “was taken up” (Acts 1:2)—as angels told the apostles, he was “taken up from [them] into heaven” (v. 11). The stunningly visible vindication of Elijah, in full view of his awestruck disciple and successor, was a preview of the greater glorification of Jesus, God’s last and best Word (Heb. 1:1–2; John 1:1, 14). But there’s more: As Elisha took up his mentor’s mantle and ministry, he immediately received the Spirit who had empowered Elijah (2 Kings 2:9–10, 15). Likewise, Jesus would soon pour out the Holy Spirit on his apostles, empowering them as his witnesses (Acts 1:4–5, 8; 2:33). The passing of the prophetic baton and Spirit-anointing from Elijah to Elisha hinted that, centuries later, Jesus’s ascension would lead to Pentecost, when God’s Spirit, the Father’s promised gift, would descend on his expectant witnesses. Son of Man on the Clouds of Heaven (Dan. 7) The “cloud” that hid Jesus from the apostles’ sight as he ascended into “heaven” (Acts 1:9–11) alludes to Daniel’s vision of “one like a son of man” coming “with the clouds of heaven” to the Ancient of Days in his heavenly courtroom, to receive an indestructible kingdom (Dan. 7:13–14). Standing before the Jewish Sanhedrin, Jesus linked Daniel 7 with the heavenly enthronement of the king-priest announced in Psalm 110: “You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming with the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62, author’s translation). Jesus’s ascension continues the link between the prophetic ‘shadows’ and their eschatological fulfillment in Christ. Consistent with Daniel’s vision, Jesus was announcing to Israel’s leaders that he, the Son of Man, would come with clouds into heaven, to receive supreme authority and assume his eternal throne. Even his persecutors would witness evidence of his enthronement. In other words, the cloud that received Jesus as he left earth was the cloud in which (as Daniel saw) he entered heaven to be enthroned as Lord at God’s right hand (see Acts 2:33–35). The ascension cloud visibly announces that the Son of Man now wields everlasting dominion over an indestructible kingdom. His imminent outpouring of the Spirit, with signs both seen and heard, would give evidence of the Son of Man’s heavenly coronation. Seated at God’s Right Hand (Ps. 110) Psalm 110:1 was much on Jesus’s mind as his cross and resurrection drew near. In the days before his trial, he quoted this verse to show that the Messiah would be not merely David’s son but also David’s Lord (Luke 20:41–44). Then, before the Sanhedrin, in Luke’s counterpart to Mark 14:62 (above), Jesus emphasized the imminent fulfillment of the Son of Man’s heavenly enthronement: “From now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of God’s power” (Luke 22:69, author’s translation). So on the day of Pentecost, Peter quoted Psalm 110:1 and announced that the signs of the Spirit’s outpouring, which everyone could see and hear, were God-given evidence of Jesus’s ascent to heaven, to take his seat at God’s right hand: Therefore, at God’s right hand having been lifted up high, and having received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father, [Christ] has poured out this which you both see and hear. For David didn’t go up into the heavens, but he himself says, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I place your enemies a footstool for your feet.’” (Acts 2:33–35, author’s translation, emphasis added) Peter first alluded to Psalm 110:1 (God’s “right hand”), and then he quoted it. He connected both the allusion and the quotation to Christ’s ascension with the verbs “lift up high” and “go up”: Jesus was “lifted up high” to God’s right hand; whereas David didn’t “go up” into the heavens but spoke of his Lord who did. Peter’s use of Psalm 110 to interpret Jesus’s ascension made clear that Christ’s royal enthronement at God’s right hand was the indispensable prerequisite to his bestowing the Holy Spirit on his people, as the Father promised in the Old Testament and in the words of John the Baptist and of Jesus himself. No ascension, no Pentecost. No Pentecost, no distribution of the Spirit’s gifts to all Jesus’s people. No distribution of the Spirit’s gifts, no worldwide gospel witness and no building up of Christ’s body through the diverse ministries of all its members. Everything depends on the ascended, reigning Christ Jesus. Everything depends on the ascended, reigning Christ Jesus. Old Testament quotations and allusions in the account of Jesus’s ascension and in Peter’s apostolic commentary on it (Acts 1–2) illuminate the ascension’s marvelous message: Jesus has marched into heaven in glorious vindication as the Revealer of the Father; the Son of Man who reigns supremely, now and forever; and the Spirit-bestowing Messiah who is David’s Lord—and ours. The living, ascended, reigning Christ is active today in your life and in his church through his living Word (the Bible) and his ever-present, all-powerful Spirit.

“If I were the devil (please, no comment),” J. I. Packer wrote in his foreword to R. C. Sproul’s Knowing Scripture, “one of my first aims would be to stop folk from digging into the Bible. Knowing that it is the Word of God, teaching people to know and love and serve the God of the Word, I should do all I could to surround it with the spiritual equivalent of pits, thorn hedges and traps, to frighten people off.” Had Packer written this in 2025, he likely would’ve specifically identified digital distraction and short attention spans as major factors keeping Christians out of Scripture. We’ve had good news about Christianity in recent months. The number of self-identifying Christians in America has leveled off after decades of decline. Meanwhile, Bible sales are booming in our nation. Yet despite these encouraging trends, the percentage of Americans who periodically engage with the Bible on their own dropped during the pandemic years from 50 percent in 2021 to 41 percent in 2025. This data reminds us of the need to encourage Bible reading in our congregations for the sake of their spiritual health. In How to Read the Bible: A Simple Guide to Deeper Intimacy with God, David Platt, lead pastor of McLean Bible Church and founder of Radical, demonstrates that Scripture reading is essential for spiritual formation. It isn’t merely a duty or an optional add-on to the Christian life. It’s God’s primary means of communicating his love and care for us. “My aim in the pages ahead,” Platt writes, “is to show you how the Bible is a priceless treasure that reveals God’s pursuit of and love for you” (xiii). With that mission in mind, Platt provides an accessible resource for Christians intimidated by the Bible. It’s a helpful tool, as well, for disciple makers in an age of distraction. Overcome Distraction Digital addiction is one of the key issues Platt identifies as a barrier to consistent Bible reading. He notes, “From the moment we wake up to the moment we go to bed, and every moment in between, we check our phones an average of ninety-six times a day, or once every ten minutes” (4). Even if we take the time to pick up our Bibles (or open a Bible app), our digital addiction makes it harder to concentrate on what we’re reading. Even if we take the time to pick up our Bibles (or open a Bible app), our digital addiction makes it harder to concentrate on what we’re reading. Thus, would-be Bible readers face serious cultural (and spiritual) headwinds. This book’s proposed solution is just to dive in and let God use the Bible to change our desires. Sometimes, change simply requires brute force. For example, Platt once hated seafood. He says, “I didn’t even like the smell of it.” Yet when seafood was served by his future mother-in-law, he pretended to enjoy it. What was the result of his convincing performance? “Whenever I ate with them, they would serve seafood. As a result, I now love seafood” (7). By analogy, Platt argues, Christians may only learn to love eating the meat of Scripture after they buckle down and do it for a while. That requires resisting the lure of easy dopamine hits from our phones and exchanging them for a more strenuous lifestyle of Scripture study. Bible Reading as a Lifestyle For many Christians—new and seasoned—it’s hard to know how to start reading the Bible. Therefore, the bulk of How to Read the Bible presents a simple four-step strategy for profitably engaging Scripture. The steps form the acrostic MAPS: Meditate/Memorize, Apply, Pray, and Share. Though Platt calls these “steps,” it seems more helpful to think of them as habits. MAPS isn’t a checklist to follow in our quiet times. It’s a guide to practices that allow Scripture to deeply inform our thinking. A single workout doesn’t bring long-term benefits; those benefits come from a lifestyle of healthy diet and exercise. Similarly, Platt’s four steps produce value through the cultivation of patient practice. For example, my best insights into Scripture rarely come while reading the text. As I turn the day’s reading over in my mind, Scripture works on me through the Holy Spirit. Meditation and, better yet, memorization are much more important than merely moving a bookmark a few pages in the Bible each day. Memorizing a verse (or whole passages) provides more to meditate on. The more I memorize, the more connections I see between Bible passages and the more my appetite for Scripture increases. Scripture is an acquired taste. Meditation and, better yet, memorization are much more important than merely moving a bookmark a few pages in the Bible each day. But Bible reading isn’t primarily a cognitive exercise. As Platt notes, “It is about experiencing supernatural transformation in our lives” (59). That transformation requires application. One of those applications is prayer. A healthy lifestyle of biblical intake and application naturally flows into “expressing our hearts to [God] as he hears from us” (71). The joy of that deepening intimacy with God pushes us to lead others “to experience intimacy with God in their lives” (81). Healthy disciples are disciple makers. Platt’s heartbeat for missions and evangelism throbs even through a short book on Bible reading. Scripture-Centric Discipleship How to Read the Bible makes a similar promise to classics like Sproul’s Knowing Scripture and Howard Hendricks’s Living by the Book. In one way, it improves on their legacy because those authors assumed a level of familiarity with the Bible that many modern readers don’t possess. In contrast, Platt expects no prior biblical knowledge as he invites readers to engage with Scripture and the God who inspired it. Platt partially compensates for an assumed lack of biblical knowledge with a brief appendix that summarizes 10 types of literature in Scripture. His simple tips for understanding the biblical genres are a goldmine and are worth the price of the book, especially for beginners. Though the book lacks clear guidance for finding a Bible reading plan, Platt mentions Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s plan in passing. He also recommends Don Carson’s multivolume devotional, For the Love of God, which serves as a companion to that plan. Yet beginners may need help finding a plan that fits their schedule and familiarity with Christianity. This book will best be used as a discipleship tool with a mentor rather than merely as a resource for distribution. Conveniently, those mentoring relationships will catalyze the sharing that rounds out the MAPS acrostic. The process is self-sustaining. Due to its simplicity and practicality, How to Read the Bible is an excellent resource for churches and parachurch organizations as they build a Scripture-centric discipleship culture.

Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor respond to questions submitted by listeners, such as what advice they have for newlyweds, how women can thoughtfully have relationships with their pastors and elders, their go-to verses for lonely times—and, last but not least, their favorite pizza toppings! Recommended Resources: Parenting with Hope by Melissa Kruger The Lord’s Work in the Lord’s Way by Francis A. Schaeffer “’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” Related Content: TGC Q&A podcast Let’s Talk: Your Questions, Answered! Questions Discussed: What’s a good way to get constructive criticism on Bible teaching without falling into people-pleasing? What are practical ways to teach a teen to read and study the Word without her feeling forced? How did you know it was time to go to seminary? What advice would you give women considering seminary? How do you grow relationships with pastors and elders as a female church member? What practical tips can you give on asking questions that get conversations going and reach the heart? I’m getting married this fall to a wonderfully godly man. Do you have advice or encouragement for newlyweds? What has helped you grow in affection for the Lord? What are your go-to verses for lonely seasons of life? What are your favorite pizza toppings?

President Donald Trump’s decision on who he will appoint as Virginia’s two top federal prosecutors may be coming soon. And who he chooses could impact the state legislature’s elections in November. Just last week, Virginia House of Delegates Minority Leader Todd Gilbert told Virginia Scope that he was ready to step down from his leadership position if the GOP caucus called for new elections for House leaders. The Republican said that the caucus “can’t afford sudden disruptions” stemming from his candidacy for United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, adding that electing Republican leaders before this November’s elections where all 100 House seats are up is “absolutely critical.” Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Virginia Office of the Attorney General and former Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert Tracci has also been nominated for the Western District slot, and while working as section chief for major crimes for the attorney general, he has collected the endorsement of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police. “I’m proud to have earned [their] support for this position,” he told The Daily Signal, pointing to his experience prosecuting cases like the ones in the aftermath of the deadly riots in Charlottesville in the summer of 2017. A notable subtext is the interest that the congressmen from the western part of the state have taken in this process. Representatives from the offices of Reps. Ben Cline, Morgan Griffith, and John McGuire have all interviewed both candidates, though this is not a position that the U.S. House of Representatives has a role in determining. It appears that they may be preparing advice for the president, who will ultimately make the nomination. Meanwhile, in the Eastern District of Virginia, the choice is between Michael Gill, assistant general counsel and director of investigations for Huntington Ingalls Industries, and Erik Siebert, currently serving as the interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. They are also awaiting the president’s nomination, but news coverage about the Eastern District slot has been mostly about the tragic death of the former U.S. attorney there, Jessica Aber, and Siebert’s participation in the FBI arrest of accused MS-13 gang kingpin Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos in Dale City in March. Gilbert’s view of the importance of this year’s General Assembly races in Virginia is seemingly shared by the Democratic Party, as Gilbert’s Democrat doppelganger, House Speaker Don Scott, joined the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the national organization dedicated to electing Democrats to statehouses, to further prioritize national support for Virginia’s upcoming state races. “All eyes are on Virginia in 2025,” declared Democratic Leadership Campaign Committee  Director Heather Williams as she pledged a “seven-figure” investment in Virginia House races. “Opportunities to move policy and build power aren’t happening in Washington—they’re happening in the statehouses,” she said. Between Jan. 1 and March 31, Virginia House Democrats outraised Virginia Republicans, $3.72 million to $1.47 million. Rick Buchanan, GOP chair of Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, put it more bluntly, telling The Daily Signal, “If Republicans lose the governor’s mansion and don’t [take the majority in] the Virginia House of Delegates, the national Democrats will go into hyperdrive [using it as a springboard to] recapture Congress” in next year’s congressional midterm elections.   He also warned Virginia Republicans who have been reading news articles in the legacy media of how the party is doomed in 2025 that Democratic Party majorities in both chambers with a Democrat governor will “turn Virginia into California East.” Of course, that’s when a political party drops the ball. When a U.S. attorney makes a mistake, victims of crime don’t have justice and dangerous people go free to victimize Democrats and Republicans alike. Sources indicate that the nominations for U.S. attorney may come as soon as this week. At the pace that the Trump administration works, that wouldn’t be surprising. The post Trump May Soon Appoint 2 New Virginia Federal Prosecutors as State GOP Braces for Critical Elections appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Gorillas: 4 – Poachers: 0

Certain Christian traditions celebrate some days on the Christian calendar that more of us ought to consider, and Ascension Day is one such example.Ascension Day is always on a Thursday because it is always 40 days after Easter. This is because Acts 1:3 tells us that the time period from the day Christ was resurrected till the day He ascended into heaven was 40 days.'The significance of Christ’s ascension to heaven climactically changes the shape of prayer in redemptive history.'The gospel accounts clarify that the risen Christ physically appeared to His disciples and others multiple times. These astounding occurrences are, of course, the reason the disciples were transformed into virtually fearless preachers of truth. After all, Jesus’ first appearance to the group took place while they were locked in a room, dejected after the crucifixion and in fear for their lives.But as Christ told them even before His crucifixion, He would leave them — but not alone (John 14:26):But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.That supernaturally empowered remembrance would prove crucial because the apostles provided the source material for all the Gospels.Jesus also told them it was actually better for Him to leave (John 16:7) so the Holy Spirit, who would teach and guide them further into truth (John 16:13-15), could come.What actually happened on Ascension Day?The Gospel of Luke gives us the details (Luke 24:50-53):And He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands, He blessed them. And it happened that while He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.What a difference from the first time He left them 43 days earlier!The Gospel of Mark provides an additional detail that is very important (Mark 16:19):So then, the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.So what is Jesus doing at the right hand of God? The Bible tells us:Romans 8:34: Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Hebrews 7:25: Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 1 John 2:1: My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.If we belong to Him, Jesus continually intercedes on our behalf. He is the reason we have unfettered access to our Creator and the reason we can pray to the Father; it is through the person of Christ that this is possible.Luke, who wrote about the disciples’ response after the ascension, also wrote the book of Acts, which he began by revisiting the ascension story again. Dr. Daniel Schrock says this isn’t because Luke wanted to be repetitive but because he wanted us to read everything that happens in the book of Acts in light of Jesus’ ascension to heaven."We cannot really understand the events of Acts without understanding how they are connected to the exaltation of Christ at the right hand of the Father," explains Schrock.Luke himself refers to this reality later in the book of Acts when he reported on the martyrdom of Stephen."But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, 'Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God'" (Acts 7:55-56). This reality of Christ’s ongoing intercession for us is the reason we are taught to pray “in Jesus’ name” (John 16:23), which is central to our salvation (see Acts 2:21, where Luke quotes from the book of Joel, and the definitive Acts 4:12)."The significance of Christ’s ascension to heaven climactically changes the shape of prayer in redemptive history. From Acts forward, God’s people now pray to God through the name of Jesus, the One who has been made both Lord and Christ, and who is himself praying for us in that exalted state," Schrock explains.A celebration of promiseAscension Day clarifies the reality of Christ’s continuing work for us, but one more passage about this momentous event also clarifies a promise of immense joy.Acts 1:9-11:And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” Now you have something to celebrate — and to teach your kids. Happy Ascension Day!This article was adapted from an essay originally published on Diane Schrader's Substack, She Speaks Truth.

World of Warcraft Season of Discovery is being brought to a close as Blizzard’s WoW Classic team moves onto building something new. The creative twist on the MMORPG takes players back to the early days, offering the potential to unlock new abilities outside of your standard skill set that can entirely transform the way classes are played. Following the launch of the Scarlet Enclave raid in April, however, the developer confirms that it’s now planning to “slow down” work on SoD, although it reassures players that realms will remain open for the foreseeable future. Continue reading World of Warcraft Season of Discovery is coming to an end as new project begins MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMORPGs, WoW The War Within review, The best WoW addons

What's the best F1 25 Saudi Arabia setup? While the race weekend has only been part of the calendar for a few years, it's one of the biggest fan-favorites of the first half of the season. Not only is it a good spectacle, but it's also one of the most challenging in the game. Therefore, your setup for Saudi Arabia in F1 25 needs to be altered from what you used for the likes of Japan and China. This year's racing game introduced some new mechanics you need to get used to, and also means that the setups that'll give you the best chance of scoring points are different to last year's game. Continue reading F1 25 Saudi Arabia setup MORE FROM PCGAMESN: F1 25 review, F1 25 Australia setup, F1 25 China setup

CA High School Sports Governing Body Tries Again to Fix Rule Allowing Boys to Compete As Girls, and Fails