The Religious Landscape Study by Pew Research Center, conducted in 2007 and 2014, surveys more than 35,000 Americans from all 50 states about their religious affiliations, beliefs and practices, and social and political views. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/#religions

Summertime is usually a season where I catch up with friends, self-study a Bible book or theme, catch up on books that I’ve been wanting to read and do a good amount of reflection of my past academic year. Just like our children who get their report cards at the end of the year, please carefully and prayerfully look at your grades in relationships and any work done as a follower of Jesus Christ.

This past Monday, Alex’s therapist called me to strongly advise that she gets evaluated by a psychiatrist to take antidepressants. Since her pediatrician also suggested the same, I was ready to pursue this plan immediately. Howard on the other hand was very resistant to this idea. He said he researched a lot about antidepressants on the developing brains of teenagers/young adults as well as it’s side effects and withdrawal symptoms. He told me to do my own research. He said they are mind-altering drugs and we need to be cautious especially for younger people.

After my musing about heaven last week, I looked up and found these older sermons about Heaven. These pastors shared their biblical teachings on heaven and also talked about their children or grandchild who passed away. Because of their tragic event, it made them think and study the scriptures about heaven. As you learn about heaven from these pastors, you will be very encouraged. I forget where I read this but divorce rate is very high amongst couples who lose their children. As you pray for the Uvalde TX families, please pray for their marriages too. 🙏 They have other children and it would be so very tragic if their marriages end due to their overwhelming sorrows. Thank you for praying for their marriages.

There has been two kidnapping attempts in the last two weeks in our area. Because we live in safe and affluent neighborhoods this has been very shocking. After praying much about it, I felt that I needed to share with my prayer group ladies, my church community and parent friends. I hope these resources make you more aware too.

I don’t really know how the Holy Spirit does this but every time I feel like I can’t do this anymore, my inner battery gets recharged. I am reminded of the Energizer Bunny…I’m still going!

Joel Osteen’s ministry kept coming up in my discussions with prayer friends and bible study group recently. I used to listen to his messages a lot in the first two years of my return back. Looking back his softer sermons were what I needed for they were easy to digest. After all, I haven’t eaten any spiritual food for a very long time. His ministry reminds me of “milk and not solid foods” that Apostle Paul talked about. I stopped listening to Joel Osteen because his teachings were no longer providing me with endurance for daily tough times and so I found teachers at Times Square Church, One For Israel, Derek Prince, Dr Charles Stanley, Francis Chan, Rick Warren, Joyce Meyer, Beth Moore, Billy Graham, Dr Tony Evans, Gary Hamrick, Amir Tsarfati, RT Kendall, John MacArthur, Greg Laurie, Sid Roth’s guests, David Hernandez and classic preachers such as Charles Spurgeon, AW Tozer, Oswald Chambers, etc.