Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
True
Glenda moved to Houston from Ohio just before the pandemic hit. She didn't know that COVID-19-related delays would make it difficult to get her Texas driver's license and apply for unemployment benefits. She quickly found herself in an impossible situation — stranded in a strange place without money for food, gas, or a job to provide what she needed.
Alone, hungry, and scared, Glenda dialed 2-1-1 for help. The person on the other end of the line directed her to the Houston-based nonprofit Bread of Life, founded by St. John's United Methodist pastors Rudy and Juanita Rasmus.
For nearly 30 years, Bread of Life has been at the forefront of HIV/AIDS prevention, eliminating food insecurity, providing permanent housing to formerly homeless individuals and disaster relief.
Glenda sat in her car for 20 minutes outside of the building, trying to muster up the courage to get out and ask for help. She'd never been in this situation before, and she was terrified.
When she finally got out, she encountered Eva Thibaudeau, who happened to be walking down the street at the exact same time. Thibaudeau is the CEO of Temenos CDC, a nonprofit multi-unit housing development also founded by the Rasmuses, with a mission to serve Midtown Houston's homeless population.
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUyNDg1Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NTQ5MDE1Mn0.0jnGZfz6cTr9rIuYo644sDJftBhj7Dqzg-6olbynoig/img.jpg?width=980" id="db65e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1d9dbe31f21c6ae80223dd1cc11825a5" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@healing_photographer?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aarón Blanco Tejedor</a> </small></p><p>"I saw a woman walking toward me in a hesitant fashion. I called out to her and admired her Juneteenth t-shirt," Thibaudeau said. Glenda asked her for directions, and they struck up a conversation. After finding out that she was in need, Thibaudeau sprang into action and began making phone calls. A few minutes later, two of her co-workers rounded the corner of St. John's church with a box of household goods, courtesy of Bread of Life.<br></p><p>As they loaded up Glenda's car with essentials, Thibaudeau asked questions and listened intently before inviting her to take a walk together.</p><p>"As [we] walked, she sobbed and shared that she isn't any more deserving than anyone else and she was so grateful for our kindness. I told her that this is what we do and reminded her that she is not alone. Once you find all of us, you have found the Houston Love!" said Thibaudeau. "I put my arm around her and asked, 'What's your name?' We laughed at realizing that we hadn't exchanged names yet. 'Glenda,' she answered. 'I'm Eva and we got you.'"</p><p>This kind of empathy and boundless love is what fuels the work of Pastors Rudy and Juanita Rasmus. By practicing what they preach—literally—they've created a Houston-based network of nonprofit organizations to cover almost every need imaginable.</p><div id="b5433" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e6d0b0f14bcb6f7bb71df55f93e86d71"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px);
width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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width:100%;">
<div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC);
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CEfOk_TB_-N/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif;
font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;
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</div></blockquote></div><p>The couple, who have been married for 36 years, light up recalling an event that transformed and refined their mission to serve. Shortly after they first took over the congregation at <a href="https://stjohnsdowntown.org/" target="_blank">St. John's</a>, they arrived at the church to find a homeless man sleeping on the front stoop. Rather than shooing him away, they invited him inside. That, in sum, is what they've been doing ever since: using what they have to help those in need.<br></p><p>"We have an amazing team of compassionate people who really work together to make good happen, and that's what we've been doing for almost 30 years," said Pastor Rudy. "Eva's story is a perfect example of that."</p><p>Bread of Life received an outpouring of support from across the U.S. after <a href="https://www.upworthy.com/texas-pastor-is-redefining-what-it-means-to-love-your-neighbor" target="_self">Upworthy</a> published their story in June 2020, enabling them to begin offering free weekly COVID-19 testing to the residents of downtown Houston. During a time when access to testing was problematic for many Americans, this service undeniably saved a number of lives. Bread of Life serves a primarily homeless population, people with disabilities and no insurance, with a primary goal of reducing homelessness and food insecurity.</p><p>Recently, they've shifted their volunteer efforts to the herculean task of contact tracing and case management, offering yet another invaluable service. They now have an official Mobile COVID Testing Unit, offering completely contact free, mobile testing (note the arm holes in the side)!</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUyNDg4My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNTI2NzA3OH0.Kgt9hQ52HYvUiM7DVJ9o4JCbHaf5wbpUDp0BGjqi4_U/img.jpg?width=980" id="c7449" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ab8061956f3882567e51a7ed2dec4588" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">Photo courtesy of Rudy Rasmus</small></p><p>Additionally, Bread of Life's partnership with <a href="https://m25m.org/" target="_blank">Matthew:25 Ministries</a> and the <a href="https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/home/" target="_blank">Houston Food Bank</a> means that people who are sick and quarantined at home can now have food delivered. They've also added fresh, frozen meat to their weekly contactless distribution line downtown.<br></p><p>"Meat days are <em>crazy</em>," said Pastor Rudy. "Because people who are experiencing food insufficiency don't have many opportunities to get meat." He calls it "small scale pandemonium."</p><div id="499c1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ea8243c74976243fdaacbc5d4de7e064"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
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width:calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding:8px;">
<div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center;
width:100%;">
<div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC);
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</div></div><p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CDix9xZDLMu/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif;
font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;
word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">Login • Instagram</a></p>
</div></blockquote></div><p>According to <a href="https://www.pggoodeveryday.com/impact/feeding-america/" target="_blank">Feeding America</a>, an additional 17.1 million Americans will experience food insecurity this year due to impacts from COVID-19, and they need our support now more than ever. In response to this growing problem, Feeding America® and Procter & Gamble have joined forces to bring food and household items to communities hit hardest by the pandemic. Across the U.S., P&G is donating products and personal care kits for distribution through the Feeding America network of food banks.<br></p>What Pastors Rudy and Juanita have accomplished in Houston is a direct result of ordinary people who are willing to do extraordinary things. And you can make a difference too by simply joining <a href="https://www.pggoodeveryday.com/" target="_blank">P&G Good Everyday</a>. By taking action through the website, you can earn rewards by buying products you already know and love. And the best part? P&G will donate to a cause you care about so you can turn your everyday actions into acts of good.
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Kim Kardashian finally opened up about how the O.J. Simpson trial 'tore her family apart'
10.27.20
Part of the reason why the O.J. Simpson trial still captures our attention 25 years later is because it's filled with complexities - and complexities on top of complexities at that. Kim Kardashian West finally opened up about her experience during the O.J. Simpson trial on the third season of David Letterman's Netflix show My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, adding another layer to the situation.
Kardashian, who was 14 at the time, said she was close to Simpson before the trial, calling him "Uncle O.J." The whole Kardashian-Jenner brood even went on a family vacation in Mexico with the Simpsons just weeks before Nicole's murder.
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d54c371ebab889a3177f0559b3238df2"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4Ow0W9VUjuE?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman | Kim Kardashian West on OJ Simpson</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">
<a href="https://youtu.be/4Ow0W9VUjuE" target="_blank">youtu.be</a>
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</p><p><br></p><p>However, the O.J. Simpson trial "tore my family apart," Kardashian said. Kardashian's parents had already been divorced, but adding a trial and subsequent media circus did not help family relations. Kardashian's dad, the late Robert Kardashian, was part of Simpson's legal defense, while Kardashian's mom, Kris Jenner, was Nicole's best friend. Kardashian, who was a teenager at the time, wasn't sure which parent to side with.</p><p>Kardashian said, that "having your dad take one side and your mom take the complete opposite side" was difficult. "We didn't really know what to believe or whose side to take as kids, because we didn't want to hurt one of our parents' feelings." Honestly, in some ways it's a very relatable experience for children of divorce – of course without the "whole high-profile celebrity murder trial" thing.</p><p>Having to split time in two different houses meant having to hear two wildly different opinions. "My mom was extremely vocal on her feelings -- she believed that her friend was murdered by him and that was really traumatizing for her," Kardashian said. "And then we'd go to my dad's house and it was a whole other situation there."</p><p>Kardashian opened up on just how much drama her family was put through. "It was dinner time, and we were all sitting down, and I answered the phone," <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/kim-kardashian-oj-simpson-trial-david-letterman" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kardashian said</a>. "It was a call from jail, and it was O.J., and I handed my mom the phone because he wanted to speak to her. And I just remember them getting into it."</p><p>Kardashian recalled her father taking her and her sister out of school to attend the trial. "I remember my mom was sitting with Nicole's parents, and Kourtney and I were sitting behind O.J., and we look over at my mom and she's giving us this death stare - like, 'What are you doing out of school? What are you doing here?!'" <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-8868709/Kim-Kardashian-tells-David-Letterman-O-J-Simpson-case-tore-family-apart.html" target="_blank">said Kardashian</a>. "Kourtney and I were like, 'Just look straight -- do not look at mom.'"</p><p>While it's clear where her parents stand on the issue – Jenner even gave her daughter, Kendall, the middle name "Nicole" to honor Nicole Brown – Kardashian's opinions are still private. Letterman asked Kardashian if she thought he did it or not, but Kardashian opted not to answer, <a href="https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/tv/kim-kardashian-netflix-everything-we-learned-from-her-david-letterman-chatshow-kanye/" target="_blank">instead saying</a>, "I've never expressed how I've felt about that because I just respect his children."</p><p>It's interesting to think that for some people, the "trial of the century" was also part of a really bad fight between mom and dad.</p>
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Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
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Glenda moved to Houston from Ohio just before the pandemic hit. She didn't know that COVID-19-related delays would make it difficult to get her Texas driver's license and apply for unemployment benefits. She quickly found herself in an impossible situation — stranded in a strange place without money for food, gas, or a job to provide what she needed.
Alone, hungry, and scared, Glenda dialed 2-1-1 for help. The person on the other end of the line directed her to the Houston-based nonprofit Bread of Life, founded by St. John's United Methodist pastors Rudy and Juanita Rasmus.
For nearly 30 years, Bread of Life has been at the forefront of HIV/AIDS prevention, eliminating food insecurity, providing permanent housing to formerly homeless individuals and disaster relief.
Glenda sat in her car for 20 minutes outside of the building, trying to muster up the courage to get out and ask for help. She'd never been in this situation before, and she was terrified.
When she finally got out, she encountered Eva Thibaudeau, who happened to be walking down the street at the exact same time. Thibaudeau is the CEO of Temenos CDC, a nonprofit multi-unit housing development also founded by the Rasmuses, with a mission to serve Midtown Houston's homeless population.
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUyNDg1Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NTQ5MDE1Mn0.0jnGZfz6cTr9rIuYo644sDJftBhj7Dqzg-6olbynoig/img.jpg?width=980" id="db65e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1d9dbe31f21c6ae80223dd1cc11825a5" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@healing_photographer?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aarón Blanco Tejedor</a> </small></p><p>"I saw a woman walking toward me in a hesitant fashion. I called out to her and admired her Juneteenth t-shirt," Thibaudeau said. Glenda asked her for directions, and they struck up a conversation. After finding out that she was in need, Thibaudeau sprang into action and began making phone calls. A few minutes later, two of her co-workers rounded the corner of St. John's church with a box of household goods, courtesy of Bread of Life.<br></p><p>As they loaded up Glenda's car with essentials, Thibaudeau asked questions and listened intently before inviting her to take a walk together.</p><p>"As [we] walked, she sobbed and shared that she isn't any more deserving than anyone else and she was so grateful for our kindness. I told her that this is what we do and reminded her that she is not alone. Once you find all of us, you have found the Houston Love!" said Thibaudeau. "I put my arm around her and asked, 'What's your name?' We laughed at realizing that we hadn't exchanged names yet. 'Glenda,' she answered. 'I'm Eva and we got you.'"</p><p>This kind of empathy and boundless love is what fuels the work of Pastors Rudy and Juanita Rasmus. By practicing what they preach—literally—they've created a Houston-based network of nonprofit organizations to cover almost every need imaginable.</p><div id="b5433" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e6d0b0f14bcb6f7bb71df55f93e86d71"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px);
width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC);
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CEfOk_TB_-N/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif;
font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;
word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">Login • Instagram</a></p>
</div></blockquote></div><p>The couple, who have been married for 36 years, light up recalling an event that transformed and refined their mission to serve. Shortly after they first took over the congregation at <a href="https://stjohnsdowntown.org/" target="_blank">St. John's</a>, they arrived at the church to find a homeless man sleeping on the front stoop. Rather than shooing him away, they invited him inside. That, in sum, is what they've been doing ever since: using what they have to help those in need.<br></p><p>"We have an amazing team of compassionate people who really work together to make good happen, and that's what we've been doing for almost 30 years," said Pastor Rudy. "Eva's story is a perfect example of that."</p><p>Bread of Life received an outpouring of support from across the U.S. after <a href="https://www.upworthy.com/texas-pastor-is-redefining-what-it-means-to-love-your-neighbor" target="_self">Upworthy</a> published their story in June 2020, enabling them to begin offering free weekly COVID-19 testing to the residents of downtown Houston. During a time when access to testing was problematic for many Americans, this service undeniably saved a number of lives. Bread of Life serves a primarily homeless population, people with disabilities and no insurance, with a primary goal of reducing homelessness and food insecurity.</p><p>Recently, they've shifted their volunteer efforts to the herculean task of contact tracing and case management, offering yet another invaluable service. They now have an official Mobile COVID Testing Unit, offering completely contact free, mobile testing (note the arm holes in the side)!</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUyNDg4My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNTI2NzA3OH0.Kgt9hQ52HYvUiM7DVJ9o4JCbHaf5wbpUDp0BGjqi4_U/img.jpg?width=980" id="c7449" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ab8061956f3882567e51a7ed2dec4588" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">Photo courtesy of Rudy Rasmus</small></p><p>Additionally, Bread of Life's partnership with <a href="https://m25m.org/" target="_blank">Matthew:25 Ministries</a> and the <a href="https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/home/" target="_blank">Houston Food Bank</a> means that people who are sick and quarantined at home can now have food delivered. They've also added fresh, frozen meat to their weekly contactless distribution line downtown.<br></p><p>"Meat days are <em>crazy</em>," said Pastor Rudy. "Because people who are experiencing food insufficiency don't have many opportunities to get meat." He calls it "small scale pandemonium."</p><div id="499c1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ea8243c74976243fdaacbc5d4de7e064"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px);
width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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width:100%;">
<div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC);
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CDix9xZDLMu/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif;
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</div></blockquote></div><p>According to <a href="https://www.pggoodeveryday.com/impact/feeding-america/" target="_blank">Feeding America</a>, an additional 17.1 million Americans will experience food insecurity this year due to impacts from COVID-19, and they need our support now more than ever. In response to this growing problem, Feeding America® and Procter & Gamble have joined forces to bring food and household items to communities hit hardest by the pandemic. Across the U.S., P&G is donating products and personal care kits for distribution through the Feeding America network of food banks.<br></p>What Pastors Rudy and Juanita have accomplished in Houston is a direct result of ordinary people who are willing to do extraordinary things. And you can make a difference too by simply joining <a href="https://www.pggoodeveryday.com/" target="_blank">P&G Good Everyday</a>. By taking action through the website, you can earn rewards by buying products you already know and love. And the best part? P&G will donate to a cause you care about so you can turn your everyday actions into acts of good.
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Mother uses side-by-side photos to show the miraculous connection between vaccinations and breast milk
08.10.20
via Jody Danielle Fisher / Facebook
Breast milk is an incredibly magical food. The wonderful thing is that it's produced by a collaboration between mother and baby.
British mother Jody Danielle Fisher shared the miracle of this collaboration on Facebook recently after having her 13-month-old child vaccinated.
In the post, she compared the color of her breast milk before and after the vaccination, to show how a baby's reaction to the vaccine has a direct effect on her mother's milk production.
<p>"The 'normal' colour milk is from the day before she had them, the 'blue' colour milk is from today - 2 days after she had them. It's blue from all the antibodies my body is producing as it thinks she's sick with what she was vaccinated against!" she wrote.</p><p>"When she feeds her saliva sends signals to my body to produce more milk with illness specific antibodies!" she added.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9e868b5bb5e5209ca37299647ec80df1"><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157242725160120&set=a.10150338617715120&type=3"></div></div><p>According to researchers, Fisher's hypothesis is correct. A mother's body can detect if a child is sick through breastfeeding and then pass on antibodies that will help immunize the child through her breast milk.<br></p><p>In 2015, Katie Hinde, PhD, a biologist and associate professor at the Center for Evolution and Medicine at the School of Human Evolution & Social Change at Arizona State University, explained the phenomenon to journalist Leslie Goldma of Mom.me.</p><p>"There, it is believed that mammary gland receptors interpret the 'baby spit backwash' for bacteria and viruses and, if they detect something amiss (i.e. the baby is sick or fighting off an infection), her body will actually change the milk's immunological composition,"<a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/02/23/breast-milk-change-colour_n_9296968.html?" target="_blank"> Hinde said.</a></p><p>"Putting this all together, some scientists hypothesize that this could be one of the ways babies let mums 'know' about their condition and mums respond with infection-fighting antibodies," she continued.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU0OTkwMy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NDQ3MTk1M30.Gn_tFPv6h4Kg5j0ziIN91RP6uOFb5CaWrVr4DVKbD4k/img.jpg?width=980" id="d96e5" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d06069f5c13a20e9d78f871aeae86479" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit..."><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/madanelu/22809983779/in/photolist-AKD8up-8F24wX-2jenQQD-RAFspL-LU9k-Egf7V-xgSFN-aKt5f-7mX91v-FKp4d1-MWLN-bCSv7-9NrYE-ejHsBG-Ad7j7K-7Hs8Nv-4RDx1N-sR6Tp-4Ufkrt-SUDSq3-6WxQuW-26NZMh1-2L5KUT-cE7KcJ-ri87oF-2gZehiX-Kbw5XP-6szogn-4ofPEb-JFsQuA-t5FkTF-6fEGcf-58T5NL-5mXV8-2dwuwEq-5PMUQD-dD7B3d-CWqF5P-2gKtFuw-2i8r6AD-2j5uHrS-245Vwxu-ReT7n7-8w2kfq-PnKVsq-2j96VSL-75x7hh-fkQYXA-86xubB-ccFR8C" target="_blank">via Flickr</a></small></p><p>Fisher's post shows the amazing power of mothers, babies, vaccinations, and breast milk and how they all come together to create healthy children.<br></p><p>However, the post received a backlash from anti-vaxxers who have a hard time grasping the overwhelming scientific evidence that vaccines are safe. In fact,<a href="https://www.good.is/articles/vaccines-dont-cause-autism" target="_blank"> a 2019 study </a>of over 650,00 children concluded that the MMR vaccine doesn't cause autism.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU0OTg5My9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NjQ1NDI2Mn0.LgB31MSMTA6EovCcbyz4g_mDxiYkTh8mcr2g6nmTJtE/img.png?width=980" id="7a70e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c6b4422a4d916e7892ae7547499dc121" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">via Facebook</small></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU0OTg5Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMTQ5OTgwN30.tDl78w_hx_PFNsmlPBK5T5bACmLWNeF7OEwY-46-zSY/img.jpg?width=980" id="ae97d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="21539321ef7e06d45eac004412f34435" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">via Facebook</small></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU0OTg5OC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MzgzNTAwMH0.Qyae0w8Th9jWUMcQ8SYP80w6EKVHLqt3AP78Z9L_b6o/img.png?width=980" id="4084e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e3c4980f74c7fa708c3e529458ed02e3" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">via Facebook</small></p><p>Fisher had some strong words for the anti-vaxxers who claimed she was harming her child. She says the "whole point of vaccinations" is to cause your body to "make antibodies and 'heal' itself."<br></p><p>"Don't come on my post preaching about not having vaccinations and them been poisonous," she wrote. "I hope your child(ren) never becomes ill with anything serious or doesn't pass it on to a poor baby waiting to have their immunisations because you don't believe in vaccinations!"</p>
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Pro-life pastor's post argues that an unrepentantly sinful leader is deadlier than abortion
10.27.20
We've heard that character is on the ballot this election—but also that policy matters more than personality. We've heard that integrity and honesty matter—but also that we're electing the leader of a nation, not the leader of a Boy Scout troop.
How much a candidate's character matters has been a matter of debate for decades. But one of the odd juxtapositions of the Trump era is that arguably the most historically immoral, character-deficient candidate has been embraced by the evangelical Christian right, who tout morality more than most. Trump won the right's "moral majority" vote by pushing conservative policies, and there is a not-so-small percentage of "one issue" voters—the issue being abortion—who are willing to overlook any and all manner of sin for someone who says they want to "protect the unborn."
So when a prominent, staunchly pro-life, conservative Christian pastor comes out with a biblical argument that basically says "Yeah, no, the benefit doesn't outweigh the cost," it makes people sit up and listen.
<p>John Piper is the founder of desiringgod.org and the chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. He spent 33 years as a Baptist minister and is the author of dozens of books on Christian theology, including a handful of best-sellers. And he recently <a href="https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/policies-persons-and-paths-to-ruin" target="_blank">published a post</a> that, while certainly not endorsing Biden, makes a biblical argument for rejecting Trump.</p><p>In what he called a "long-overdue article," Piper pointed out the sins of "unrepentant sexual immorality," "unrepentant boastfulness," "unrepentant vulgarity," and "unrepentant factiousness," and questioned why so many Christians only consider such sins toxic instead of deadly. </p><p>"These are sins mentioned in the New Testament," he wrote. "To be more specific, they are sins that destroy people. They are not just deadly. They are deadly <em>forever</em>. They lead to eternal destruction..."</p><p>Piper added that such sins don't just destroy people, but nations as well. </p><p>"I think it is a drastic mistake to think that the deadly influences of a leader come only through his <em>policies</em> and not also through his <em>person</em>," he wrote. <br></p><p>"This is true not only because flagrant boastfulness, vulgarity, immorality, and factiousness are self-incriminating, but also because they are nation-corrupting. They move out from centers of influence to infect whole cultures. The last five years bear vivid witness to this infection at almost every level of society."</p><p>Piper even gave a biblical example of precisely what he means by the character of a leader leading to death for a nation.</p><p>"There is a character connection between rulers and subjects," he wrote. "When the Bible describes a king by saying, 'He sinned and made Israel to sin' (<a href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Kings%2014.16" target="_blank">1 Kings 14:16</a>), it does not mean he twisted their arm. It means his influence shaped the people. That's the calling of a leader. Take the lead in giving shape to the character of your people. So it happens. For good or for ill."</p><p>He also explains how Christian arguments along the lines of "policy over personality" ignore the real damage done by having a leadership position filled with a person whose character is destructive:</p><p>"Christians communicate a falsehood to unbelievers (who are also baffled!) when we act as if policies and laws that protect life and freedom are more precious than being a certain kind of person. The church is paying dearly, and will continue to pay, for our communicating this falsehood year after year.<br></p><p>The justifications for ranking the destructive effects of persons below the destructive effects of policies ring hollow.</p><p>I find it bewildering that Christians can be so sure that greater damage will be done by bad judges, bad laws, and bad policies than is being done by the culture-infecting spread of the gangrene of sinful self-exaltation, and boasting, and strife-stirring...</p><p>How do they know this? Seriously! Where do they get the sure knowledge that judges, laws, and policies are less destructive than boastful factiousness in high places?" </p><p>Piper then specifically addressed the "But what about abortion?" question, articulating both his strict abortion-is-baby-murder stance <em>and</em> his belief that abortion deaths <span></span>don't outweigh the broader death and destruction caused by a selfish, braggadocious leader. </p><p>"I think Roe is an evil decision. I think Planned Parenthood is a code name for baby-killing and (historically at least) ethnic cleansing. And I think it is baffling and presumptuous to assume that pro-abortion policies kill more people than a culture-saturating, pro-self pride," he wrote.</p><p>"When a leader models self-absorbed, self-exalting boastfulness, he models the most deadly behavior in the world. He points his nation to destruction. Destruction of more kinds than we can imagine."</p><p>Piper made it clear that his purpose in writing the post was not to convince anyone to vote a specific way (an editor's note indicates that he won't be voting for Biden or Trump), but rather hoped that Christians would "be given pause" by examining the consequences of choosing a leader with "a pattern of public behaviors that lead to death."</p><p>It's a serious statement from a serious Christian leader, which Christians might want to seriously consider. You can read the full article <a href="https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/policies-persons-and-paths-to-ruin" target="_blank">here.</a> </p>
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