Surviving Election Day Madness

 

Surviving Election Day Madness

I am not giving in to the hyper-alarming nature of the media and fearmongers that will populate all the forms of traditional and digital media and social platforms today. The truth is whatever will happen will happen. As an ardent believer in Jesus, I accept that He alone is in charge of what happens to me, not a political leader. That said, I examined my tendencies to give in to anxiety and nervous fear and have come up with my own escape system for the day.

1.      Prayer—Yes, God and I will be in constant communication today, not just because I need his guidance in all things, but by staying in communication with Him all day, I can tune out the crazy talk going on around me. Also, it never hurts to pray for unity, peace, and kindness because however this plays out, we will all need unity, peace, and compassion.

2.      Music – Here is where I needed to go old-school.  I can’t listen to my favorite Podcast, because it is inundated with political ads. I can’t listen to my faith-based sermons on YouTube, because YouTube only runs one-sided political ads, and it drives me insane. I can’t listen to the radio, because all they want to do is interject with voting, polls, and result hypothesis – so that is a no. I also can’t listen to Amazon Music, Spotify, or anything else that runs ads, because all the ads are disgusting (political ads). So, I recalled that I had music (old MP3s) on my portable drive at my desk. The good thing is there are no ads with this! Yea!  The bad thing is that I have not purchased music in years and what was on there was not what I wanted to listen to. Then I saw a folder called, “Christmas.” Yes, I know it is only November 5^th, but honestly what better genre to swim in today than uplifting positive Christmas carols?

3.      Noise Cancelling Headphones – I don’t care what excuse you have to make, but if you are surrounded by chatty, loud office mates who are doing nothing but discussing the election, find your headphones and drown it out.  Mine are not exactly noise canceling, but turning the volume up a bit fixes the background of negativity.

4.      Spot on the Wall – I know you’ve heard it before, “to focus on a spot on the wall, or something small,” well when my mind starts to focus on the what-ifs and the chaos that is likely to exist after today, I just focus on the picture of me and my mom at my desk. It immediately takes me back to a time when things were more civil and simpler.

5.      Jesus – Yep, I am concluding this list by circling back to God. If we were honest about the complete picture of Jesus, we would see that he was non-political and stood for things that glorified God and aligned with God’s morality and plans. Focusing on Jesus today reminds me that no matter what happens today, no one can take away my faith in Him – NO ONE, because He is in my heart and mind, and as such, He can’t be removed from me. 

      So, if you are like me and you struggle with anxiety over days like today, find ways to soothe your mind and ground your soul!

 

God bless,

 

April

 

Photo Credit: https://christfollowerlife.com/products/jesus-lion-american-flag-of-faith-wall-art-canvas

So, You Want to Write!

 

SO, YOU WANT TO WRITE!

First, I want to thank each and every single one of you for remaining loyal subscribers, even as I have reduced the number of posts while finishing my degree. I’m at the end of the tunnel, and soon, my focus can return to this blog full-time!

Since starting Blessings from Cancer, I’ve received countless encouraging messages, and one of the most common questions is: “How do you select your topics, and how do you tie them to scripture and cancer?”  Today, I want to share some insight into my writing process, focusing on research and how I incorporate sources. Whether you’re writing a blog, a journal, or just personal reflection, I hope these tips inspire you to start writing, too!  

RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!

When starting any project, especially one that involves faith-based topics, it’s crucial to have a clear plan. I always begin by praying for inspiration. Once I have a direction, I narrow down my focus. For example, when I began writing my series, “Seeing God in Secular Movies,” I knew I wanted to focus on movies from my childhood. From there, I narrowed down my research to specific films, which allowed me to plan how many blogs I wanted to write and what messages I wanted to draw from each movie.

Tip: Start broad, then refine. For any topic, ask yourself:

·       What is my central message?

·       What details do I need to support that message?

·       How many parts or posts will this project require?

Research is essential not only for non-fiction, where accuracy and credibility are paramount, but also for creative fiction (fiction, poetry, prose). In non-fiction, it helps ensure that the information is factual and supports the writer’s message. For example, in my blog, I rely on research to connect scripture with everyday experiences. In creative writing, research adds depth and realism to the story or characters. Whether you’re writing historical fiction or world-building fantasies, researching locations, historical events, or even cultural norms helps make your writing more authentic and immersive.

FINDING SOURCES

Finding credible sources is key to crafting any well-researched piece. For example, when I write about a movie, I start by looking up basic information like summaries and reviews. Then, I search for articles or blogs that explore similar themes to ensure I have a variety of perspectives. Websites like JSTOR and databases from my college library provide scholarly articles, while Google and platforms like IMDB give quick references for movies.

For Bible passages, I rely on resources like Enduring Word and Logos to ensure I am interpreting scripture in context. It’s important to find sources that are trustworthy and accurate, especially when dealing with scripture.

Recommended Places to Search:

·       Scholarly articles from JSTOR

·       Bible resources like Logos and Enduring Word

·       General information from Google (look for .edu or .org for credibility)

CREDIBLE AND APPROPRIATE

Not every source is equal. To determine credibility, look at the author’s qualifications, the website’s domain, and the publication date. For instance, I trust .edu and .org websites (Educational and Not-for-Profit Organizations) more than commercial ones (like .com), unless I know the author is reputable. For my blog, I only use sources that have clear author credentials or that cite reputable experts.

When writing about scripture, context is crucial. Make sure the Bible passage you’re referencing fits the topic and isn’t being twisted to fit a narrative. I use Enduring Word to get deeper insights into context and application because they quote from Christian sources that are generally accepted by all denominations of the Christian faith, like Charles Spurgeon.

INCORPORATING THE RESEARCH AND SOURCES

Incorporating research into writing is a balancing act. You want to enhance your message without overwhelming the reader with too many facts. In my “Seeing God in Secular Movies” series, I weave scripture and research naturally into my analysis of movie scenes. For example, I might reference Yoda’s quote from The Empire Strikes Back alongside Galatians 6:9 to draw parallels between perseverance in faith and the perseverance taught in the movie.

The key is to smoothly integrate quotes and facts without overloading the reader. Use sources to support your thoughts, but don’t let them take over your voice. You can also paraphrase sources, and make sure to properly give credit where it’s due.

MORE, PLEASE!

Here are some resources I recommend if you’re looking to dig deeper into research, writing, or finding reliable sources:

·       Writer’s Digest: Offers great tips and tricks for writing in any genre, including non-fiction.

·       Purdue OWL: Excellent for basics on how to structure writing and cite sources properly.

·       Enduring Word: A fantastic Bible commentary resource to ensure you’re interpreting scripture correctly.

·       JSTOR: Perfect for accessing scholarly articles on various topics.

 

For this post, I consulted:

Holy Bible, ESV, 2007 (esv.org)

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back: Quotes (IMDB.com)

Logos (logos.com)

Enduring Word (enduringword.com)

JSTOR (jstor.org)

All Children are God's Children

 

All Children are God’s Children

In today’s culture, children seem to be the red flag on a long tug-of-war rope. Our political system has declared children as a tool to win or lose elections and our media and news outlets have removed the rights and voice of parents. I can no longer sit and keep quiet. I am not apologetic for what I am about to say, it needs to be said, boldly, loudly, and to whomever I have at my disposal to reach. I rebuke the current administration’s approach that says “All children are our (as in the US Government’s) children”. No, all children are God’s children, and as such we must inform, raise and educate them not only of that fact but of what it means to be a CHILD OF GOD.

INFORM THEM – WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS:

In Matthew 9:14, Jesus says “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” His love and concern for the innocent children baffled his disciples and challenged Jewish tradition and understanding of the importance of children. Jesus showed that the protected innocence which is reflected in youth is to be our compass to heaven. Children are inquisitive, imaginative, expressive, innocent, thirsty for knowledge and reason and have the ability to see things as they should be – this is what we are to aim to be like.

RAISE THEM – WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS:

Be vigilant in what goes into your child’s head. There are so many distractions the evil one has at his disposal to get into our children’s heads and hearts: social media, television, school, etc. Allowing after-school satan clubs to take place in public schools is insulting to me as a Christian. However, if evil wants to educate my children, then I must fight back by petitioning for an after-school bible club. We cannot defeat evil by being quiet – no more being still in the presence of disobedience and evil. Stand up to it! Fight back (the right way) – insist on equality. For every evil program, there should be a righteous program. Disconnect them from social media. Interact with them. Make talking about God fun and exciting. Go do nature things and experience the truth that is in all of God’s creation.

EDUCATE THEM – WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS:

The Bible teaches that every child is formed and known by God, as written in Psalm 139:13-14: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." What an incredible reminder that God intimately forms each child and already knows them before they are born. We must stand firm in educating them that they are made in the image of God and that he made them as they are to be. We should not be allowing children (whom we as parents are called to mold, teach and bring to God) to mutilate and question God’s design. It is unholy and direct disobedience to God when we reject how he made us. He is our creator. He is our architect. Physically altering one's body to reject the created plan of God is equivalent to spitting in the face of God.  

As Christians, we are called to model Jesus' heart for children. Ephesians 6:4 says “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” We must guide kids with patience, compassion, and grace.

The Bible assures us that children have a special status in God's kingdom. May we nurture each child as the wondrous, worthy human being they are. When we look at every young person as one of God's beloved children, it changes how we see and treat them. Our kids need to know they are children of God.

In order to do this we must take a stand for children. We must do everything we can today – not tomorrow – to protect the innocence that was naturally created in our children.

 

Check the following fighters:

https://www.momsforliberty.org/

https://www.facebook.com/CaseyDeSantis  (she is fighting to protect children)

I would love to share more – but Google has limited search parameters allowing me to copy links or to find them all.