Tuesday on Political Rewind , small businesses weather the storm during the coronavirus crisis. How are Georgia’s stores, bars, restaurants, cinemas and bookstores handling the current situation?

Thursday on Political Rewind , a metric that gives fresh perspective on how to view Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to reopen the state: the number of new people infected by each person infected by COVID-19. That number went down during shelter-in-place orders in Georgia. How do the experts expect this rate to change now that restrictions have been partially lifted?

"I was still shocked by how much had changed, and how quickly." After climbing out of the Grand Canyon, Kim Stanley Robinson reflects on how culture is and may be changing under the impact of COVID-19, from charismatic mega-ideas to societies within societies.

(Previously) (SLNewYorker)

A number of Americans have difficulty paying their energy bills, which can be very dangerous to a person's health during the winter months. Dr. Tony Reames, an assistant professor at the U-M's School for Environment and Sustainability, is now researching ways to better understand the correlation between environmental health and income. Dr. Reames discusses his work with WEMU's David Fair for this week's "Issues of the Environment."

Since President Donald Trump took office, 58 environmental protection policies have been rolled back or rescinded. 37 more are in the process of being taken off the books. In this week's "Issues of the Environment," WEMU's David Fair checks in with 12th District Michigan Congresswoman Debbie Dingell about efforts to thwart federal policies that threaten environmental health and sustainability.

A series of "energy freedom" bills, which would allow customers to diversify energy generation and usage is before the Michigan Legislature. For this week's "Issues of the Environment," WEMU's David Fair talks with Ed Rivet, executive director of the Michigan Conservative Energy Forum, about a new strategy to move the measures forward.

Some practical and existential questions about moving from a small condo in a major urban area to a large house in the residential neighborhood of a smaller city. Topics include: being handy, avoiding a cookie-cutter aesthetic, additional considerations if you'll be telecommuting most of the time. 1. My partner and I are somewhat lazy, not very "handy" people, but we've also never tried to be otherwise. I understand that home ownership means committing to a significant amount of maintenance in both time and money. My question is: if you were not dispositionally handy before, did that change once you became a homeowner? Did you like it more once you were invested? Or was everything even more annoying and expensive than you thought it would be?!

2. I have a strong mental aversion to a cookie-cutter aesthetic, having grown up in such a suburban development. However, in the particular area where we are looking, these kind of 4 BR 2.5 BA colonials are the norm for a good reason - higher supply and reasonable cost. Logistically, they are perfect for our future plans (which do include kids) and are more likely to have wishlist items like a garage and central air. The other large chunk of the market are older homes, sometimes historical, many of which are a decent size and well-maintained and built, but are less likely to have convenient wishlist items, and which may come with higher long-term maintenance costs. (There are also a few contemporary homes that can be both aesthetically/logistically appealing, but are sometimes smaller or more expensive.) If you've had to weight similar factors, did one of those win out in the end? I'm trying to figure out if in the day-to-day lived reality of being a future parent and juggling house stuff - if the practicality of a certain kind of home outweighs any existential angst about essentially being in a lame development - or if living in a home you really love aesthetically can improve your quality of life. And of course, these developments are still part of a city, so it's not really as isolated as being in a true suburb.

3. My partner will have a very short commute to work, and I plan to spend most of my time telecommuting. We would like to eventually have 2 children, so would prefer a 4+ BR with a permanent office/guest room, because I want a specifically devoted office space where I could shut the door for conference calls, things like that. Is there anything else I might not be thinking of as a telecommuter, re: house aspects that are especially useful or annoying?

Lastly, I know all of this comes to how I personally feel. But I am curious if other people have experienced similar decision points. Consider it a sequel to this question from seven (!) years ago.

Upstairs neighbors did something that resulted in a little water dripping from my ceiling. It appears to have gotten behind a wall outlet as well, and I'm now concerned as to whether it's safe to use. The outlet had a surge protector plugged in at the time of the water exposure, which I unplugged after I heard buzzing coming from the outlet. Since the outlet kept buzzing, I cut off all electricity to half of my home via the circuit breaker for about a day (the building is old, so multiple rooms - kitchen, bathroom, and 2 extra are all on the same 20 amp breaker). There has been no buzzing since I turned the breaker back on.

After a cursory observation my super stated I could use the outlet again after 36 hours, which I extended to around 60 to be safe. When I started plugging in the surge protector, however, I saw a blue spark; this freaked me out enough that I decided to leave it unplugged.

Questions:
1. Given the above, is there reason to believe the outlet is currently safe to use/will be safe to use in the near future?
2. If not, what are my next steps? Request that my super/landlord send in an electrician?
3. (Slightly unrelated) Is it possible to change the configuration of rooms to circuit breakers? I don't want to have to shut off half my home again if there's a problem in only one room, and I appear to have a spare 20 amp that isn't connected to anything. The super said it wasn't possible as it would require new wiring to be placed in the walls, etc. but I don't know how knowledgeable they are on the electrical front.

Thanks!

My husband and I were given two N-95 masks by the wife of a (retired) doctor from church when C19 was barely making headlines. She said he had a couple of boxes from his practice. Is it legal for us to use them if we *must* go out? I am immunocompromised, if that makes any difference. My husband is not. I understand the moral argument for not using them. Is it worth taking just two to drop off at a medical office or hospital? We are in a mid-sized city in the southeast, not a big city like NYC.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST: The global race for a coronavirus vaccine is on. And around the world, hopes for a vaccine are high. (SOUNDBITE OF MONTAGE) UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER #1: Tests on humans are already underway in the U.S., China, the United Kingdom and Germany. UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER #2: The time that it takes to do these things is being at a level that no one has ever seen. UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER #3: Good morning, Andrew. Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech starting the dosing of the first U.S. participants in their clinical trial. UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER #4: And, Jim, Moderna is going to be a talking point this morning. FDA approval for phase 2 trial of its vaccine candidate, mRNA... KELLY: So what is a realistic timeline for a coronavirus vaccine, and when might we, the public, actually be able to get it? Well, those are the million-dollar questions that NPR science correspondent Joe Palca is here to address. Hey, Joe. JOE PALCA, BYLINE: Hello

The Census Bureau says it is continuing the gradual relaunch of limited field operations for the 2020 census next week in nine states where the coronavirus pandemic forced the hand-delivery of paper forms in rural areas to be suspended in mid-March. On May 13, some local census offices in Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington are scheduled to restart that fieldwork, according to an updated schedule the bureau published on its website Friday. All workers are expected to be trained in CDC guidance in preventing the spread of COVID-19, and besides a new reusable face mask for every 10 days worked and a pair of gloves for each work day, the bureau has ordered 2 ounces of hand sanitizer for each census worker conducting field operations, the bureau tells NPR in an email. The announcement means more households that receive their mail at post office boxes or drop points are expected to find paper questionnaires left outside their

This is part of a series looking at pressing coronavirus questions of the week. We'd like to hear what you're curious about. Email us at goatsandsoda@npr.org with the subject line: "Weekly Coronavirus Questions." More than 76,000 people in the U.S. have died because of COVID-19, and there have been 1.27 million confirmed cases across the country — and nearly 4 million worldwide. Though the virus continues to spread and sicken people, some states and countries are starting to reopen businesses and lift stay-at-home requirements. This week, we look at some of your questions as summer nears and restrictions are eased. Is it safe to swim in pools or lakes? Does the virus spread through the water? People are asking whether they should be concerned about being exposed to the coronavirus while swimming. Experts say water needn't be a cause for concern. The CDC says there is no evidence the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, spas or water

President Trump wants states to begin relaxing stay-at-home orders and reopen businesses after the spread of the coronavirus pummeled the global economy and killed millions of jobs. The White House coronavirus task force released guidelines on April 16 to encourage state governors to adopt a phased approach to lifting restrictions across the country. Some states have moved ahead without meeting the criteria . The task force rejected a set of additional detailed draft recommendations for schools, restaurants, churches and mass transit systems from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that it considered " overly prescriptive ." A number of states have already begun to lift restrictions, allowing for businesses including hair salons, diners and tattoo parlors to once again begin accepting customers. Health experts have warned that reopening too quickly could result in a potential rebound in cases. States are supposed to wait to begin lifting any restrictions until they have a 14

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

While flu season is an annual occurrence, the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 infections has drawn more attention to what individuals can do to fight viral infections.

While the following natural health and healing suggestions are not a replacement for professional medical advice and treatment, research has shown these strategies may strengthen immunity and improve symptoms. 

Those with symptoms are being urged to stay at home and utilize telemedicine services to gain a doctor’s advice. 

Even if you’re not infected, be sure to practice the recommended steps to avoid the virus: frequent handwashing, “social distancing” from other people, and staying at home as much as possible.

Dr. Neil Nedley, a physician and president of Weimar Institute, told Pastor Doug Batchelor in a recent interview that taking N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) supplements can help develop antibodies against the infection. He also suggested zinc supplementation and urged a plant-based diet of foods rich in antioxidants—including broccoli, brussels sprouts, spinach, kale, and garlic, as well as fruits including berries and plums.

Note: Please consult with your physician before utilizing these natural remedies, especially if you have severe symptoms, are on any form of medication, or have a special condition, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc. If you’re concerned about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 infection, check the advice at coronavirus.gov.

The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content in this article is for general information purposes only. You are encouraged to confirm any information obtained from or through this website with other sources and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician.

1. Take a Contrast Shower

At the first sign of a cold or flu, give yourself a “contrast shower.” The sooner you do it, the more effective it is. This treatment increases the number of circulating white blood cells and can ward off a full-blown infection.

• Turn the water as hot as you can tolerate (105 to 110° F).
• After a few minutes, turn the cold water on. Start with a mild contrast. Jumping up and down and rubbing your skin while in the cold water will help. Leave the cold on for about 30 seconds. Never leave it on so long that you actually feel chilled. This will have an undesirable effect (if you feel chilled, turn the hot water back on until you feel warm; then try a shorter application of cold or milder temperature).
• Repeat this contrast three times, ending with cold. Dry yourself briskly and go to bed for at least one hour. Repeat this treatment 1 to 2 times daily.

Note: If you have diabetes, heart disease, or other circulatory impairment, use only a very mild contrast.

2. Rest!
Continuing your normal level of activity usually results in worsened symptoms and a longer illness. Particularly if you have a fever, go to bed so that your body can do the work of healing without interference.

3. Avoid Antibiotics, if Possible
Colds and influenza are caused by viruses. Antibiotics fight only bacterial infections, such as strep throat. They can also upset the healthy bacterial balance of the digestive tract. Try an herbal preparation such as garlic or echinacea. These can help the body fight infection without harmful side effects. (Use echinacea only when fighting an infection; otherwise, it can lose its effectiveness.)

4. Take Vitamin C at the First Sign of Symptoms
Vitamin C has been shown to reduce the severity of symptoms and shorten the duration of a cold or flu (1,000 mg in the morning, 500 mg in the afternoon).

5. Eat Simply
Avoid sugars and fats and limit juices and fruit, especially dried fruit (citrus fruits are preferable). Eliminate dairy products, which aggravate mucus-related symptoms. Drink plenty of fluids. Water, soups, and broth are all suitable, up to three quarts a day.

6. Keep Hands, Feet, Neck, and Ears Warmly Clothed
Blood flow to the nasal structures falls as the temperature of the extremities falls. Viruses prefer the resultant lower temperature and sluggish circulation of the nasal passages. This is why a chilled person has lowered resistance to upper respiratory infections.

7. Get Fresh Air, but Avoid Drafts
Keep your room warm (68 to 72° F), but not hot. Do deep breathing exercises, preferably outside.

8. Get a Little Sun Outdoors, but Don’t Allow Yourself to Get Chilled
Sunlight boosts the immune response and raises beneficial hormones that will help you feel better.

9. Don’t Be Too Eager to Reduce a Fever
Fever is a defense mechanism the body uses to fight infection. If you feel chilled, you are in the heating stage of a fever. Take steps to warm yourself. When you feel hot and are sweating, you have moved into the cooling stage of the fever. This is often referred to as “fever breaking.”

10. For Nasal Congestion

• Drink hot broth or hot tea, such as peppermint or ginger
• Add plenty of garlic and onion to soups and eat while hot
• Use saline nose drops: Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda in 1 cup warm water. Use with a clean eyedropper or nasal spray bottle.
• Use a water vaporizer with eucalyptus essence
• Apply a hot sinus compress
• Use “breathing strips” found in the First Aid section of drug stores

11. For a Sore Throat

• Gargle with saltwater: 1/4 teaspoon salt to 1 cup warm water
• Use zinc lozenges
• Use a water vaporizer, especially at night
• Apply a hot compress to the throat

12. For a Cough

• Drink hot peppermint or ginger tea with a teaspoon of honey
• Honey mixed with fresh lemon juice can also soothe a cough, but use sparingly
• Use a water vaporizer with eucalyptus essence
• Apply a hot chest pack

13. Take an Acidophilus Preparation
This may help fight off viral and bacterial infections by ensuring an abundance of beneficial bacteria in the bowel.

14. Reduce Stress
Avoid dwelling on how bad you feel or how much you’re missing. Read light and uplifting material or listen to soothing music. According to research done at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, the more positive your attitude, the less severe your symptoms may be.

15. If Symptoms Are Severe, See a Physician
Severe symptoms include a fever above 104° F or one of 102° F that lasts more than a day, severe or persistent sore throat, ear pain, stiff neck, wet chest sounds, colored mucus or sputum, a cough that lingers more than a week after other symptoms have cleared, etc. These symptoms may indicate a more serious illness. 

16. Avoid Spreading the Infection to Others
Stay home and use disposable tissue to cover coughs and sneezes and for blowing your nose. Don’t prepare food for others, sit or stand close to others, and wash your hands frequently.

17. When You Start Feeling Better, Don’t Shift Back Into Full Gear
This usually results in a relapse. Stay low (and even in bed) for a few extra days. Make a gradual transition to normal activity.

Dear friends of Amazing Facts International,

We are living in unprecedented times.

The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically transformed how we live and do business; of course, we are all being urged to isolate ourselves to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The state of California, in which Amazing Facts operates, is also now in a virtual lock-down, enforcing “shelter-in-place,” and non-essential businesses are closing everywhere.

With this in mind, we wanted to update our friends on how Amazing Facts is responding to the crisis.

While we are adhering to local, state, and national recommendations and ordinances, we want you to know that we are still actively spreading the gospel … without spreading germs!

Of course, Amazing Facts has been asked to restrict our onsite operations, and we are complying. For the foreseeable future, most of our team will be safely working from home so that our mission can continue.

Fortunately, Amazing Facts is a media ministry that operates two TV networks, so we are exempt from many statewide restrictions that require complete closure. This means that we are still able to do our work with a minimized crew at our headquarters to continue basic operations—including shipping Bible studies and witnessing resources.

However, the office building is closed to the public for their safety. Please do not make plans to visit until the all-clear is given.

The good news is that Amazing Facts is still broadcasting present truth!

• Our YouTube sermons and websites have many thousands of visitors every day, searching for Bible answers in these extraordinary times.
• Amazing Facts TV (aftv.org) and our recorded programs on partner networks are still reaching millions around the globe
• Over 200 radio stations are broadcasting God’s truth across our nation.

That means that although many people are now home-bound, Amazing Facts is still reaching their hearts with truth-filled lessons, including through our online and mail-based Bible School programs.

And while Pastor Doug is not able to travel, he is still preaching around the world, presenting new messages each week that will continue to be broadcast online globally. We will still be broadcasting our Sabbath School Study Hour and worship services every Sabbath—with a slimmed-down crew, right from our new office worship room.[PQ-HERE] 

These trying times are loaded with gospel opportunity as people are looking for answers. This is a prime time for us to pray and move forward with the last-day work, proclaiming the hope of Jesus’ soon return.

Please pray for Amazing Facts and for God’s protective hand to be over our ongoing work of evangelism. And pray for our fellow citizens, especially those traumatized by this crisis.

His message is our mission!

By Gary Gibbs

Ordained in 1989, Pastor Gary Gibbs serves as president of the Pennsylvania Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Before that, he served as the Chesapeake Conference Ministries Development director and as the vice president for the Hope Channel. Gibbs was also an integral part of the Amazing Facts ministry, including founding the Amazing Facts Center of Evangelism. He is the author of several books, including The New Winsome Witnessing and Prophecies of Hope Bible study guides.

An article in the Financial Times hints at how global responses to the coronavirus pandemic could facilitate Revelation’s prophecies regarding the mark of the beast:

“Many short-term emergency measures will become a fixture of life. That is the nature of emergencies. They fast-forward historical processes. Decisions that in normal times could take years of deliberation are passed in a matter of hours. Immature and even dangerous technologies are pressed into service, because the risks of doing nothing are bigger.” ¹

While the author is not making a biblical point, the principle of “fast-forward” is central to how Bible prophecies are sometimes fulfilled. Many are even now wondering if this global pandemic is a prophetic fast-forwarding event leading us to the time described in Revelation 13, where people will be commanded to worship contrary to God’s law. 

Could the events we are currently experiencing be what one author predicted for the last days? “Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones.”² The answer may lie in two revelations being exposed by this pandemic.

They Are Watching

Multiple news sources have reported that our personal travel is being remotely monitored in order to understand the spread of the virus.³  That your movements can be constantly recorded is prophetically relevant, as such technology could be used to determine whether a person is obeying laws to “worship the beast.” A simple analysis of the tracking data could inform authorities whether you went to church or not (Revelation 13:12). The nanny government would either economically penalize violators or worse (Revelation 13:15).

Even now, countries are tracking compliance of pandemic stay-at-home orders. In the United States, 97 percent of the population has been ordered not to go anywhere except for the most essential reasons.  Disobedience can result in “civil or criminal penalties.”⁵  Violators in Western Australia face a fine of A$50,000 ($32,000 USD).⁶ Fellow citizens are incentivized to report non-complying neighbors.⁷ 

This pandemic demonstrates that authorities have the ability and will to legally prevent people moving around, buying and selling, or worshiping God in church.⁸ Clearly, the technology is in place to enable the enforcement predicted in Revelation 13.

Cashless Society

Combine this with a question posed in a recent Bloomberg Tax article, Why Going Cashless Has Added Value in Pandemic Age—“Do we still need cash?”⁹ This is not a new proposition. 

I recall President Ronald Reagan wrestling with how to stop the drug cartels. A secular financial newsletter that I subscribed to at the time reported that someone on Reagan’s cabinet suggested he could stop the illegal trade by removing cash from society. In reply, another cabinet member quipped, “Like the mark of the beast?” The room became eerily silent for a moment, then the president ignored the topic and pivoted to the next agenda item. [PQ-HERE]

Today, cashless transactions have grown from a frightening suggestion to a comfortable and convenient reality. In Sweden, considered the most cashless society in the world, 80 percent of purchases are made electronically.¹⁰ Even African countries use electronic currencies—more than 75 percent of adult Kenyans use a mobile-wallet service.¹¹ India, with the world’s second-largest population, recently pushed to eliminate cash by withdrawing the most popular bills from circulation. China’s central bank announced earlier this year that it is ready to test a digital currency.¹²  

Advocates for a cashless society see an opportunity in this pandemic. They point out that China’s central bank is removing money they suspect is contaminated.¹³ Perhaps, as Bloomberg Tax suggests, this pandemic will be a fast-forwarding catalyst. “Fear of contagion could accelerate the general trend to more digital payments, according to the Bank of International Settlements.”¹⁴

There are many practical reasons for society to go cashless that transcend this pandemic. “For governments, getting rid of cash would cut minting and distribution expenses and make it easier to crack down on tax evasion and drug trafficking. Stores could save on cash-handling costs, reduce theft and possibly earn more.”¹⁵

While eliminating cash may be a practical solution for banking and business concerns, even secular sources warn that a cashless society can easily lead to tyranny, just as is predicted for the mark of the beast. “Critics say that in a digital-only economy, governments and banks could take control of your financial life, leaving you penniless with a flick of a switch.”¹⁶

Is the End Here?

With barely a protest, more than a third of the world’s population was quickly put under lockdown.¹⁷ They gave up their civil rights to peaceably assemble, privacy, and even to earn a livelihood. If one were planning a Revelation-type event to bring people into line, it would probably look a lot like this. The only thing missing is a law commanding when people must worship. 

So… is this the end?

While this pandemic could be a fast-forwarding event, it unlikely spells the imminent end. Remember, the mark of the beast concerns forced worship. This is not an element in the current pandemic. However, Revelation does predict that things will dramatically change and that worship will be legislated someday. What fast-forwarding event will be the catalyst is anyone’s guess.

In a very practical sense, it’s not the future so much that we need to focus on, it’s the here and now. People are losing jobs, bills are stacking up, and this cruel virus is robbing us of loved ones. But even as an uncertain future anxiously overshadows us, we can reach for the hand of One who will safely see us through this storm. His reassuring voice says, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:1, 2 NKJV).

2. White, Ellen. Testimonies for the Church, Volume 9, page 11. (1909)

3. See for example: GOOGLE IS TRACKING PEOPLE'S MOVEMENTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Apple using Maps data to show if people are social distancing during coronavirus outbreak
Using Location Data to Map People’s Movements, Social Distancing Efforts, and the Spread of COVID-19
Google will release maps data ‘mobility reports’ to show people’s movements in coronavirus pandemic

4. Secon, Holly; Aylin Woodward. “About 95% of Americans have been ordered to stay at home.” Business Insider. (April 7, 2020).

5. Pearl, Betsy; Lee Hunter; Kenny Lo; Ed Chung. “The Enforcement of COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Orders”. American Progress. (April 2, 2020).   

6. BBC News. “Coronavirus: How are lockdowns and other measures being enforced?”. (March 17, 2020).

7. Ruiz, Michael. “De Blasio: New Yorkers can report social distancing violations by texting photos to authorities.” Fox News. (April 18, 2020).

8. Dallas, Kelsey. “Yes, the government can force churches to close. Here’s why”. Deseret News. (March 21, 2020).

9. Bloomberg Tax. “Why Going Cashless Has Added Value in Pandemic Age: QuickTake.” (April 15, 2020).

10. Sweden/Sverige. “Sweden—The First Cashless Society?” (September 11, 2019).

11. Horsley, Scott. “China to Test Digital Currency. Could It End Up Challenging the Dollar Globally?” NPR. (January 13, 2020).

12. Horsley, Scott. Ibid.

13. Yeung, Jessie. “China is disinfecting and destroying cash to contain the coronavirus.”  CNN. (February 17, 2020).

14. Bloomberg Tax. Ibid.

15. Bloomberg Tax. Ibid.

16. Bloomberg Tax. Ibid.

17. Buchholz, Katharina. “What Share of the World Population Is Already on COVID-19 Lockdown?” Statista. (April 3, 2020).

By the Amazing Facts Webmaster

Recently, I was at the grocery store picking up a few items. When I got to the cashier at the checkout line, I tried to engage her in conversation by asking a few simple questions. (I find it’s easier to share materials with people if you’ve broken the ice.) I asked if “things were crazy there lately,” and she said yes, commenting on how rapidly their recent shipment of toilet paper had disappeared.

As she was finishing up, she asked me if I needed a bag. I told her no and pulled mine out and set it on the counter. She said that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were not allowed to touch our bags and that I would have to bag my own groceries. After she told me this, the thought went through my mind that “she probably won’t take any material that I try to give to her.” So I bagged up my groceries and left without attempting to share any tracts or DVDs with her.^*

That left me wondering: “How do we share our faith during a lockdown?” 

Right now, if you knock on someone’s door, they're not likely to answer it. If you try to hand them a tract, they may not take it. Even having face-to-face Bible studies with people is more of a challenge now.

Yet, at this time, people are wondering what on earth is happening. They’re wondering what all of these rapid changes mean, and they want answers. As Christians who understand Bible prophecy, we have the answers that they need, but circumstances have made it more challenging to give those answers the way that we used to.

So here are a few ideas on ways that you can reach out to people and share your faith during the coronavirus lockdown: [PQ-HERE]

1. Use Your Phone!

One of the pastors at our church is continuing to have Bible studies with people but instead of going to their homes, he’s doing it over the phone. Also, many people who may not be Christians appreciate prayer and would not pass up an opportunity to pray with someone. Lots of people are out of work and don’t know what to do or where to turn—so give somebody a buzz and see what happens.

2. Use Social Media! 

Many more people are online now. If you have a social media account, instead of posting only cat videos, post something of substance that speaks to the times in an intelligent and informed way. Ask thought-provoking questions and see what kind of dialogue it generates. You may find many opportunities to share as others express their thoughts and concerns about the things that are happening right now.

3. Use Text Messages! 

Who doesn’t have a cell phone nowadays? I personally don’t have a smartphone, but texting still works on my “dumb” phone! Send Bible verses or inspirational quotes to people. And if you don’t have a cell phone, you can still send text messages if you have a Google Voice account, which is free.

4. Use Snail Mail! 

Although someone might not take a tract directly from your hand at this time, they would likely have no problem if they got it in the mail. Lots of people are stuck at home and, quite honestly, they’re bored! Send them something to read or watch. A friend of mine mentioned that they were looking up random names and addresses in the phone book and sending an uplifting card with a Bible tract in it. What a great idea! 

I felt inspired by that and, over the weekend, I hand-wrote a brief letter to several neighbors on a nearby street and placed a Final Events of Bible Prophecy and Kingdoms in Time DVD, as well as an 8 Amazing Steps to Optimize Your Health and Ancient Prophecies That Reveal the Future! Amazing Fact Tracts.

I hand-wrote the notes because people are more likely to open a handwritten envelope and to read a handwritten letter. If you choose to do this, you can put your name or just identify yourself as a friend or neighbor; it’s up to you, but it’s a great way to share with people while they’re under lockdown. (Here is a link to the letter that I sent out with the materials. Feel free to use and modify it as you see fit: Dear-Friend.pdf.)

How are you sharing your faith at this time? Please share your ideas in the comments below. Others might be inspired by what you’re doing! Just because we’re under lock-down doesn't mean that we can’t be about our Father’s business. Let’s be prayerful and look for creative ways to reach out to others.

*Just a note, I still should have offered her a resource and allowed her to decide if she wanted it or not. The next store I went to, instead of assuming that the cashier wouldn't take anything, I asked him if I could give him something. The young man said, “It depends on what it is.” I pulled a Final Events of Bible Prophecy DVD out of my purse, and he said, ‘Oh yeah! I'll take that.’ Praise the Lord! But what if I had not offered it?

More than 2.5 million households across more than 60 countries tuned in for The New Heart, a powerful, timely revival presented by Amazing Facts International. 

With ten days of faith-building messages and crucial, relevant Bible answers from Pastor Doug Batchelor, president, the online series aired on Facebook, YouTube, and the AFTV online channel, and was even simultaneously translated into Spanish. Facebook users shared the programs more than 20,000 times.

Hosted by Pastor Jëan Ross, vice president for evangelism, the program was filmed at the W.O.R.D. Center with minimal on-site personnel—in keeping with safety measures during the pandemic.

Did you miss it? Watch it now!

“If there was ever a time when we needed deep, heart-searching revival, it’s now,” Pastor Doug noted. “The worldwide pandemic reminds us that we are nearing the return of Christ. Let’s not put off the spiritual preparation we will all need as we face Earth’s final events.”

And people responded to the invitation, with more than 25,000 emails and online messages pouring into the ministry. Vickie wrote, “Thank you, Pastor Doug. This series has really been an eye-opener, and I realize how important it is to read God’s Word every day. I really enjoy listening to you!”

The series also provided a time for families to come together. Viewer Sharyn noted, 

“I just want to share with you that my 91-year-old mother, Miss Jennie, and I watched all ten sermons, which aired here in our town each night at 9:00pm, and my mother would not miss even one. And, lastly, to show you how dedicated she was, she is extremely hard of hearing, so she had me place her chair right in front of the television so she could hear it to the exact volume that allowed her to hear without it being too loud or low. Thank you so much! Your gift made a wonderful impact on my elderly mother, and on me also.”

The daily sermons covered important revival themes, including, “Real Repentance,” “Sincere Confession,” “Receiving and Sharing Forgiveness,” “They Found the Book,” and “Mountain-Moving Faith.” On Sunday evening, Pastor Doug and Pastor Jëan hosted a special Bible Answers Live program on questions related to the topics featured in the series.

Free literature offers were extended during each broadcast. Viewers were encouraged to request the items via text message, ensuring they’d receive text reminders of subsequent programs. 

Amazing Facts International exists to make “God’s Message Our Mission” and spark revival among God’s end-time people. Thanks to the dedication of our ministry team and the generous financial support of our donors, The New Heart series reached millions and is continuing to impact the world, preparing this generation for Christ’s soon return!

If you missed the series or would like to watch the programs again, watch here. And be sure to share it with your friends and family!

If you're designing metal parts, you'll need to do things differently than you would for other materials and processes. This course shows how to use Autodesk Fusion 360—the affordable cloud-powered CAD and CAM tool that works like more expensive, industry-focused tools—to build effective designs specifically for subtractive manufacturing in metal. Thom Tremblay shows how to build solid designs, simulate how the model will hold up to the stress of production and use, render the design for presentation, and finalize it for manufacturing. The workflows showcased in this course are tailored to help the nonprofessional CAD user, and the maker, to be more effective and quickly have access to the tools that a few years ago were only available to the few and at an astronomical price.

Plastic has unique properties not shared by other materials. If you're designing something that will eventually be created in plastic, considering the complexities of manufacturing in your design process is critical. In this course, learn how to design parts for additive manufacturing in plastic using Autodesk Fusion 360—the affordable cloud-powered CAD and CAM tool that works like more expensive, industry-focused tools. Instructor Thom Tremblay explains how to create a form, complete and visualize your design, and set it up for 3D printing, all while designing a ready-to-manufacture part. Plus, learn a more complex alternative modeling processes for creating a solid from surfaces and subdividing a solid model.

Looking to work smarter with ZBrush? In this weekly series, Emmanuel Henri digs into this popular digital sculpting tool, helping you enhance your ZBrush skill set, one tip at a time. Each installment covers a specific topic, including how to work with key features such as ZRemesher and Panel Loops, as well as how to leverage some of the newer ZBrush tools, including PolyGroupIt. Along the way, Emmanuel also shares best practices and helps to acquaint you with popular workflows. Tune in every Tuesday for a new tip.

Note: Because this is an ongoing series, viewers will not receive a certificate of completion.

Learn how to approach character design and get a better understanding of the powerful illustration tools in Adobe Fresco. In this course, instructor Renee di Cherri explains how to use this digital drawing and painting app—optimized for touch-based devices like the iPad—to bring your character to life. Learn how to use a mindmap to build your imagined world and guide the ideation process of creating your character and what they look like. Then discover how to sketch thumbnail drawings directly in Fresco and turn them into crisp linework with its vector brushes and painting tools. Finally, find out how to add color and final touches to your character, such as realistic fur and lighting, and use companion apps like Photoshop for the iPad to create variations on your character.

Companies need DevOps professionals who can help their teams ship high-quality products and services quickly and reliably. Earning the Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certification validates your DevOps expertise, helping you become more competitive both within your current organization and in the job market at large. In this course, instructor Robby "Sap" Millsap helps you prepare for the Microsoft Azure DevOps Solutions (AZ-400) exam—the required exam for this certification—by exploring the concepts covered in the test's Implement Continuous Integration domain. Sap works through key exam topics, including strategies for managing code quality, integrating security analysis tools into your build process, and planning build dependencies. Whether you're studying for the AZ-400 exam—or you just want to take a deeper dive into continuous integration with Azure DevOps—this course can help you acquire the skills you need to be successful. (Author: Robby Millsap)

Take a deep dive into usability testing techniques and methodologies for user experience (UX) design projects with research expert Amanda Stockwell. In this course, you can learn which types of tests—remote or in person, moderated or unmoderated, task-based or unstructured—to use for specific types of projects and users. Amanda also shares tips on conducting usability tests, from recruiting participants to moderating sessions. Plus, learn how to analyze and present the results of your testing to the rest of your organization.

He launched Diddy’s career.

Hey, guys. Struck me this morning that it's a good idea for MeFites in town to know where everyone is, what potential needs folks have, and how to help if things get much worse. I'm setting this one as a proposed meetup in Austin in the hopes of getting emails out to folks in town, but right now I have no intention of meeting in-person--just organizing folks in town so that we can set up a network we can use to help one another and familiarize ourselves with anyone who's local on the site. Anyway, here's a space. Thoughts?

It's a fact of life that people grapple with discouragement, despair, and depression. There are many causes of discouragement. How can we deal with it?

Angels are mentioned over 300 times in the Bible. They are God's 'ministering spirits' to guard, protect, and help us.

Nach dem neuen Starttermin der Bundesliga beantwortet DFL-Boss Christian Seifert weitere Fragen. Der DFB-Pokal soll ausgespielt werden und Relegationsspiele soll es ebenfalls geben.

Die Bundesliga läuft wieder an, zur Freude der Vereine und zum Unmut vieler Deutscher. Laut einer neuen Umfrage spricht sich mehr als die Hälfte der Deutschen gegen den Neustart aus.

Verband, Spieler und Fans sorgen sich um die Austragung der Darts-WM 2021. Für Dimitri Van den Bergh wären Geisterspiele keine Alternative. Zudem kündigte der seit sieben Wochen bei Peter Wright lebende Belgier an, beim Weltmeister wohnen zu bleiben.

Seit seinem Wechsel von Eintracht Frankfurt zu Real Madrid ging es für Luka Jovic bergab. Der Stürmer steht vor einem Wechsel. Nun zog er sich eine schwere Verletzung zu. In den eigenen vier Wänden.

While Kelly Lytle Hernández was growing up in San Diego near the U.S.-Mexico border in the late 1980s and early '90s, she watched as people from her community, friends and neighbors, disappeared: Black youths disappeared into the prison system; Mexican immigrants disappeared through deportations. These experiences affected her deeply. "It was growing up in that environment that forced me to want to understand what was happening to us and why it seemed legitimate," Lytle Hernández tells All Things Considered . "And I wanted to disrupt that legitimacy." For answers to those questions, Lytle Hernández turned to the past. A historian and expert on immigration, race and mass incarceration, she is now a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and is one of this year's 26 MacArthur Fellows . "History is a narrative of the past. It is based upon the sources that we regard as relevant or that we can find," she says. And so her work includes tracking down records that reflect

St. Louis' first black prosecutor, Kim Gardner, has sued the city, its police union and five others for what she calls a racist effort to block her reform agenda. "Gardner was elected in 2016 on a promise to redress the scourge of historical inequality and rebuild trust in the criminal justice system among communities of color," reads the lawsuit filed Monday in federal court. "Unfortunately, entrenched interests in St. Louis ... have mobilized to thwart these efforts through a broad campaign of collusive conduct" to protect the status quo and remove Gardner from office. Jacob Long, a spokesman for Mayor Lyda Krewson, said the city "vehemently denied what it considers to be meritless allegations levied against it" and expected to be "fully vindicated." Jeff Roorda, a police union official named in the suit, called it "the last act of a desperate woman." The suit has its roots in the 2018 prosecution of then-Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens. Gardner hired an outside investigator to look into

U.S. authorities have seized the domain name of a website that allegedly sold access to billions of usernames, email addresses, passwords and other sensitive information stolen in data breaches. Now, visitors to the not-so-subtle website – weleakinfo.com — are greeted with a homepage that reads, "This Domain Has Been Seized." The Justice Department and the FBI took control of the site as part of a "comprehensive law enforcement action" involving authorities in Germany, Northern Ireland, the U.K. and the Netherlands. Two men in Europe have been arrested so far in connection with the site. WeLeakInfo billed itself as a "search engine" that subscribers could use to pore over data illegally obtained from more than 10,000 data breaches, U.S. authorities said in a statement . In all, the Justice Department said the site was offering access to more than 12 billion indexed records. "The website sold subscriptions so that any user could access the results of these data breaches, with

In more than 30 states, it is illegal for someone with HIV to have sex without first disclosing their status. Some are now pushing to change that, arguing that the laws are actually endangering public health. More than 1 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV, and their HIV status could conceivably put them behind bars. That's what happened to Michael Holder. "I served 8 1/2 years in prison and three years after on parole," Holder says. Back in 2000, Holder's ex-girlfriend testified that he didn't disclose his HIV status before they had sex. That's a crime in Michigan and in most states in the country. He says the day after she said that, she came in and recanted. "She testified the truth and said that she had lied and said that she was jealous, and she loved me and that I had told her just like I had testified and said I'd told her," Holder says. "And she told the truth, but it was too late." Holder couldn't prove that he told her. Public health experts say that's one of many

For police, the new coronavirus poses a dilemma: How do you apprehend a suspect in the era of social distancing? In India, they've come up with a way to lengthen the long arms of the law: giant tongs. In what looks more like a scene from a cops-and-robbers cartoon, this week police in the northern city of Chandigarh tweeted a video of an officer demonstrating how to use a 6-foot pole with a two-pronged claw at the end to detain a suspect. The officer, wearing a surgical mask, clamps the device around a man's waist and forces him into a pickup truck. "We call it a 'social distancing clamp' or a 'lockdown-breaker catcher,' " head constable Gurdeep Singh told NPR by phone from Chandigarh Police headquarters. "This is especially used in instances where we suspect that someone has the coronavirus and they are not cooperating with us." Chandigarh, the joint capital of the Indian states of Haryana and Punjab, has been declared a containment zone , with a high concentration of COVID-19 cases.

Zehntausende Eigentümerversammlungen fallen zurzeit aus. Denn Wohnungsbesitzer dürfen sich derzeit weder real noch online treffen. Viele Reparaturen bleiben deshalb liegen. Doch in der Krise werden die Regeln für Eigentümer neu definiert.

Seit zwei Monaten sind die Mieten in Berlin eingefroren. Während sich Mieter über die staatlich festgelegten Preise freuen, sind Vermieter sauer und fahren Investitionen zurück. Ob das Gesetz überhaupt gelten darf, wird nun in Karlsruhe geprüft.

Eigentlich ist die Sache klar: Streicht der Reiseveranstalter den gebuchten Urlaub oder Flug, bekommen Kunden ihr Geld zurück. Doch momentan wartet so mancher vergeblich auf die Rückzahlung. Was können Urlauber tun?

Auf Great Barrier Island warten alle Besucher, dass die Nacht anbricht. Denn die neuseeländische Insel ist ein Sternlicht-Reservat. Nur an wenigen Orten auf der Welt lassen sich die Gestirne so gut beobachten wie hier.

Zunächst sah sich unser Autor auf seiner Weltreise durch die Pandemie kaum beeinträchtigt. Doch irgendwann bekam auch er Angst. Denn mancherorts in Asien gibt es Tipps gegen das Coronavirus, die kaum beruhigen.

Wir müssen uns vorerst von der Hoffnung verabschieden, weit weg zu fahren, um den Alltag und alles Negative hinter uns zu lassen. Was macht das mit uns? Wie können wir uns trotzdem erholen? Eine Psychologin gibt Tipps.

Im Interview mit WELT verteidigt Außenminister Heiko Maas die Entscheidung für eine Verlängerung der weltweiten Reisewarnung bis 14. Juni. Auch wenn eine Reisewarnung kein Reiseverbot sei, werde die Bundesregierung weitere Rückholaktionen im Sommer nicht wiederholen, so Maas.

Momentan ist unser aller Bewegungsfreiheit stark eingeschränkt. Doch Gehen ist erlaubt – und hilft. Wer dazu auch gerne lange Wanderungen macht, hat es nach Ansicht unserer Autorin momentan gar noch leichter.

This iOS Music Apps Roundup features five innovative iPad apps from Air Craft, KORG, Reactable Systems, ClubROOM, and Klevgrand.

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The post iOS Music Apps Roundup: January 2017 appeared first on Dubspot Blog.

Dubspot Radio Podcast revisits an exclusive interview and chill mix selection recorded live by a Dubspot student known as J.Pennyworth.

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The post Dubspot Radio Rewind: J.Pennyworth + Exclusive Interview appeared first on Dubspot Blog.

Multitalented musician Michael Emenau examines some of the benefits and pitfalls of using musical scales and offers some creative practices for using them.

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The post Music Theory Tutorial: Working with Scales appeared first on Dubspot Blog.

San Francisco producer Scott Whitehead introduces us to Modstep, a modulation and MIDI sequencer for the iPad.

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The post iOS Music App Spotlight: Modstep by AppBC appeared first on Dubspot Blog.