Social media services have become ubiquitous, and many Christians are asking whether, or how, to use them.  “If I use social media, should I talk about my faith?  If I do talk about my faith, what will my ‘friends’ think?  If I don’t post about my faith, am I guilty of not ‘letting my light shine’ (Matthew 5:16)?”  These are important questions!  What are the benefits, and what are the consequences, of using social media?

Thousands of years ago, God commanded His people to “afflict your soul” or “fast,” at least annually on the Day of Atonement (known as Yom Kippur by Jews—Leviticus 23:27).  Both Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul understood the spiritual reasons for fasting (Mark 9:29; Acts 27:9).  Although God intended fasting (going without food and water) to be a spiritual tool to draw closer to Him, He—the Designer of the human body—knew there would also be significant health benefits.

When people are young, they often want to be older. When they are old, they often want to be younger—or at least to look and feel younger. Common to nearly everyone is the desire to be rejuvenated and renewed.

“Everyone in the square says ‘no’ to working on Sunday.  On Sunday, 4 March, thirteen European countries joined with the European Sunday Alliance, made up of various types of unions, associations of civil society, together with Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox communities, all together to confirm the special and fundamental characteristic of Sunday.”  The peaceful demonstration held in cities throughout Europe involved thousands of people.  “The Commission for Justice and Peace of the Croatian Bishops’ Conference” posted a document stating, “It is necessary respect Sunday as a day of rest

At a time of year when dry weather usually prevails, “Exceptionally heavy rain over the course of a week has smashed records in a number of places across southeast Australia and caused widespread flooding in NSW and Victoria in particular.”  Some locations received 525 mm/20.7 inches of rain in a seven-day period, due to a slow-moving low-pressure system.  One town received “nearly a year’s worth of rain” in just one week.  As of last Tuesday, 75% of New South Wales was “either under water, or affected by or at risk of floods.”  Forecasters expect the very rainy weather pa