Digital Animation Evangels

  What if I told you one of the most powerful health resources isn’t something you keep but something you give away? That’s the beauty of gratitude—it works its magic when it flows out of you. It’s easy to let those warm, thankful feelings fade as we wrap up Thanksgiving and move on to the 'grabs' of Black Friday. But science, scripture, and psychology agree: gratitude is a health resource that’s best when practiced year-round. The Bible encourages us to embrace gratitude daily: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Gratitude isn’t reserved for special occasions or when everything is perfect—it’s a mindset for every season of life. Science backs this up. Studies reveal that regularly expressing gratitude boosts physical health, mental well-being, and even relationships. When you take time to give thanks—whether through journaling, verbal affirmations, or acts of kindness—your brain releases feel-good che...

  A Routine Flight, Until It Wasn’t Earlier today (11/14/24), Icelandair Flight FI688 set off on a routine journey from Reykjavik, Iceland, to Miami, Florida. Everything seemed normal, with passengers settled in for the long trip over the Atlantic, perhaps imagining the warm Miami sun awaiting them. But midway into the flight, something unusual happened—the plane suddenly dropped 8,000 feet. While an altitude drop can be jarring, the situation was under control. However, the pilots faced a more complex issue: the necessary equipment to inspect the plane on landing was unavailable in Miami. It was a judgment call, and with safety as the top priority, the pilots chose to return to Iceland. The Frustration of an Unexpected Reversal For the passengers, this meant an abrupt and disappointing reversal. They were halfway to their destination, ready for an experience on new shores, only to find themselves heading back to where they started. It likely felt confusing, maybe even frustrating....

We have heard the saying for many years that laughter is a good medicine and there is validity to this saying. Laughter helps our neurological, physical, emotional, cognitive and social health and well-being in many ways. When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally, but it actually induces physical changes in your body. In 2002, a study on humor therapy was conducted at Loma Linda University in California. The researchers had 52 men watch a comedy video for 1 hour. Blood samples were taken 10 minutes before watching, 30 minutes into the video, and 30 minutes after the video ended, and once more 12 hours later. The study found that just one hour of watching stand-up comedy boost the immune system by increasing the activity of natural killer cell, B-cells, T-cells and immunoglobulins in the test subjects. Other benefits produced by laughter Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed ...

  The Struggle to Find Unity in a Divided World In a world filled with division, many of us are worn out. The news, social media, even the people we love seem constantly at odds. From families divided by politics to friends disagreeing over social issues, our world feels splintered. It’s tempting to give up trying to bridge these divides – to stick to “our side” where it feels safer, where people share our beliefs. After all, reaching out to someone who disagrees with us isn’t easy; it’s uncomfortable, vulnerable. But maybe that very choice, the hard choice to love others even when we disagree, is exactly what our world needs right now. The Cost of Living for Ourselves When we focus only on our own interests, we risk losing what matters most. It’s easy to think, If everyone else is just looking out for themselves, why shouldn’t I? But that kind of thinking chips away at our integrity, our relationships, and our peace. Maybe you’ve felt it yourself – the quiet tug that says, This i...

In today’s world, it’s easy to get caught up in heated discussions, especially with opinions everywhere from social media to everyday interactions. Yet, as followers of Christ, we’re called to respond differently—more graciously—even when tensions rise. Proverbs 15:1 reminds us, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Our words can either build bridges or create divides, so choosing gentleness is a powerful first step. Responding with grace doesn’t mean being passive or avoiding the truth; it’s about letting love guide our responses. Jesus demonstrated this countless times, especially when He faced criticism or challenging questions. He answered not with defensiveness, but with compassion and understanding. Following His example, we too can practice patience and understanding, recognizing that we’re all on a journey and have different perspectives. James 1:19 encourages us, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become an...