Interesting Quotes
"Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer."
ED CUNNINGHAM
The spirit of man is more important than mere physical strength, and the spiritual fiber of a nation than its wealth.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
The secret of change is to focus all your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.
Socrates
“Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience.”
RALPH EMERSON
Why Some Homemakers No Longer Keep Sponges in their Kitchens
The average kitchen sponge can contain up to 54 billion bacteria per cubic centimeter (about 1/3 of an inch) [Source: Science News, March 26, 2022, p. 5.] That is why many homemakers are purchasing non-sponge scrubbers to replace sponges in their kitchens.
Feminist Group Condemns NCAA for Ignoring the Pleas of Female Swimmers
The Executive Director of the Women’s Liberation Front has criticized the NCAA of allowing biologically-male swimmers to compete in women’s swimming meets, often winning these tournaments, even though these males, when competing against other males, were not winners. Click here to read full article.
New York pastor warns parents about ‘demonic’ content in Disney movie ‘Turning Red’
The CEO of Disney has said he thinks using media to change cultural beliefs about what is right and wrong is more effective than trying to do so through legislation. This movie may be one example of that. Click here to read full article.
‘Family’ branded streaming service Disney Plus now features explicit content
For many decades Disney has been a trusted source for family-friendly entertainment. Unfortunately that seems like it is no longer so. Even though there are Christians who work at Disney, apparently their views are not being considered in the decisions that are made. Click here to read full article.
Disney Executives Outline ‘Gay Agenda,’ Push for More Queer Characters in Internal Meeting
More information on how deeply the LGBTQIA agenda is guiding the direction of Disney. Click here to read full article.
The Power of a Well-Crafted To-Do List
This article is for persons with ADHD, for whom a standard to-do list may not suffice. It has suggestions for how to modify the standard to-do list to make it more effective for those with ADHD. Click here to read full article.
Fight, Flight, Freeze… or Fib?
Some years ago the fight or flight stress response was broadened to include a third response—freeze. Now some child psychologists are proposing a fourth option—fight, flight, freeze, or fib. The proposed adult response—asking Socratic questions to help the child recognize that this is not a good solution—makes sense, so this is probably a good article for everyone who works with children to read. Click here to read full article.
10 Ways My Child with ADHD Has Made Me a Better Parent… to All My Kids
Most parents with an ADHD child think, at least initially, that that child brings out the worst in them as parents. Here’s a parent who realizes that learning the attitudes and techniques to parent a child with ADHD effectively has helped her become a better parent to all her children. Click here to read full article.
Truths and Consequences: Helping Teens Make Good Decisions
From the Psychotherapy Networker: If you work with teens you know some of the challenges they present. This experienced teen therapist shares some ideas about what she uses. Click here to read full article.
Want to Change Yourself? Start Smaller
Sometimes clients come to us with multiple things they want to change. This article is probably common sense to most of us but might be helpful to some clients. Click here to read full article.
7 Surprising Ways Pickleball Benefits Your Brain
Pickleball is rapidly becoming a very popular game. This article, from the Amen Clinic, says that it is not only good physical exercise, but it also enhances brain health. Click here to read full article.
Getting at the Heart of Affairs
Many of us have been trained to focus on helping clients understand the feelings they are experiencing, but given no training in how to deal with ethical issues as a therapist. Some approaches even teach that it would be unethical for a therapist to bring up such issues. And yet an approach to therapy that just focuses on the needs and wants of the client often does not consider the tremendous damage and pain can be caused to others (e.g., spouse, children, etc.) when clients make decisions only based on their self-interest.
William Doherty gives some examples of how therapists can bring up ethical issues in therapy while remaining in the therapist stance. You will have to have a subscription to the Psychotherapy Networker to read the entire article, or if interested in the topic, he has written a book entitled “The Ethical Lives of Clients: Transcending Self-Interest in Psychotherapy.” Click here to read full article.
Cancel Only the Cancelers
Many of us have been concerned about the trend that allows a small, vocal group to cancel the free speech rights of anyone or group with whom they disagree. Here is a well-thought-out article about how we should respond to this threat to free speech. Click here to read full article.
Film Starring Actors With Disabilities Makes Oscars History
For those of you with a special heart for those with disabilities, this is a heartwarming story. Click here to read full article.
Second state advances a bill allowing infanticide
The state of California is considering a bill that would allow children between 1 and 4 weeks old to die and would prevent any investigation as to why the child died.
I went from porn star to pastor — it’s never too late to change path in life
Here’s an interesting story that demonstrates how faith can radically change a life and one’s self-esteem for the better. Click here to read full article.
What I Wish the World Knew about Bipolar Disorder
Since March 30th was World Bipolar Day, I read this article on the 30th and thought it was worthwhile to pass on. You probably know this information but many people in the general public do not. Click here to read full article.
Why Aren’t Schools Teaching Social Skills?
The point has been made by many that social skills are an important part any child or adult’s life. Although this is written for parents of children with ADHD, I think the idea has merit for the idea of teaching all children social skills. Click here to read full article.
17 AGs back Arkansas law banning puberty blockers, trans surgeries for minors: 'Protect kids'
There has been great controversy over an Arkansas law that banned puberty blockers and surgeries for minors suffering from gender dysphoria, arguing that the drugs have not been approved for use for gender dysphoria and that such treatments need to be clearly labelled as experimental treatments. Attorney generals from 17 other states supported the Arkansas law as it faced it’s first legal challenge. Click here to read full article.
Why Suffering Belongs in Our Sermons
This is an interview with Matthew Kim, a pastor who wrote “Preaching to People in Pain: How Suffering Can Shape Your Sermons and Connect with Your Congregation.” This book won Christianity Today’s 2022 award for preaching and pastoral leadership. You may need a subscription to Christianity Today to read the whole article on-line, but I think the article and the book have a lot of relevance for Christian’s today. Click here to read full article.
What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
This is a brief (2 paragraph) explanation of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and the conditions it can be used for. Although its essentially an advertisement for the Amen Clinic, it’s a good refresher of hyperbaric oxygen therapy if you need one. Click here to read full article.
22-Year-Old Raises Teen Half-Sister After Parents Die: ‘She’s My Own Child’
Here’s a heart-warming story of how an older sister has become guardian of her half-sister and is helping her make wise choices during her teen years. With all the stories of human depravity going around, it's nice to see that there are people who are really committed to helping others. Click here to read full article.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Henry Virkler