Devotional

Jesus and Family Division

I was recently searching for all the reasons Jesus said He came to the earth.

Most of them were comforting and in line with what I would say to someone that asked.  Here are several key ones:

• To call sinners (Mark 2:17); seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10)

• That we may have an abundant life (John 10:10)

• To do God's will (John 6:38); fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17);  give His life for us (Mark 10:35)

•  To be light (John 12:46); and bear witness to truth (John 18:37)

All this is great and heart warming until you come to this passage:

Ouch. Not a great Sunday sermon topic. It's one we have read but like to ignore. Jesus said he came to bring division among families, with explicit examples so we can’t say its hyperbole. 

Why is this so? The reality is no Christian pursuing Jesus will have support and endorsement from everyone around them, including at times our immediate and extended family. There is always one that will mock you as ‘super spiritual’, a ‘religious fanatic’, or perhaps some other not so nice terms. Jesus did command us to love our enemies and those that oppose us, even when they may be in our household. 

With our family members that are not in Christ, we have to live a life modeled by Jesus, ever loving and always truthful. It doesn't mean we need to live under physical or emotional abuse. The term ‘extra grace required’ (EGR), may often be needed.

Yet, always remember that no one is ever too far from God to repent, and never give up on being the Light Jesus called you to be to them. You may have a lifelong assignment on earth with your family, but you will grow stronger in your faith because of it.

So when you face opposition under your roof, live for Jesus first and always, because He did warn us of it.

Health Nuggets

Climbing Stairs Cuts Heart Disease Death Risk by Nearly 40 Percent

According to Epoch Times Health News, experts explain how much may be enough–and who should be cautious.

“Taking the stairs is a practical and often overlooked way to build physical activity into daily life,” study author Vassilios Vassiliou, a professor at the University of East Anglia’s Norwich Medical School.

Reduced Risk of Death From All Causes

Compared with people who rarely took the stairs, regular stair climbers were 39 percent less likely to die from cardiovascular disease and 24 percent less likely to die from any cause. The study also showed that stair climbers were less likely to develop major heart conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.

Moving vertically requires roughly 9.6 times the energy expenditure of sitting. These short, high-intensity bursts condition the heart muscle, increase stroke volume, and lower resting heart rate over time.  “For people who are able to do so safely, taking the stairs is a simple and cheap way to incorporate more physical activity into everyday life,” Vassiliou told The Epoch Times.

The pattern was consistent: Going from little or no stair climbing to some stair climbing was linked to a meaningful drop in risk. Some studies suggested that climbing more offered additional benefits, although not without limit.

One large study in the analysis pointed to about six flights per day as the point of greatest benefit—but more research is needed before turning that into a formal recommendation.

Vassiliou said that the studies he analyzed measured stair climbing in different ways, making it difficult to define an optimal “dose” based on the analysis alone.

Heart Disease Has Doubled Since 1990. It is the leading cause of death worldwide, and the number of cases nearly doubled between 1990 and 2019.

Existing evidence shows that incorporating short intervals of stair climbing three days a week over six weeks can significantly improve cardiorespiratory fitness. Similarly, another study included in the analysis showed that 2-10 minute intervals of stair climbing five days a week reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 7.7 percent in previously sedentary young women.

Adapt Exercises to Your Needs

Stair climbing works the glutes, quads, hamstrings, and calves while raising the heart rate quickly, Denise Chakoian, a Rhode Island-certified fitness trainer and owner of Core Cycle and Fitness LaGree, who was not involved in the study, told The Epoch Times, making it useful for both cardiovascular fitness and strength.

“Stair climbing is generally safe and actually healthy for you, but it’s important to build up gradually, especially if you’re not used to it,” she said.

Her guidance includes the following:

• Start Small: Begin with a few flights rather than attempting a long stair workout right away, especially if you’re not used to the activity.

• Wear Supportive Shoes: Choose shoes with good traction to reduce the risk of slipping.

• Use the Handrail: Use the handrail if you need extra stability, and pay attention to your footing.

• Stop if Something Feels Wrong: Stop if you experience dizziness, unusual shortness of breath, or sharp pain rather than pushing through.

• Let Your Body Recover: Allow time for recovery because, as with any workout, overuse without rest can lead to injury.

You can also make it more challenging by increasing your pace, adding more flights, or simply climbing for longer, Chakoian said. For people with joint pain or limited mobility, going up stairs is often better tolerated than repeatedly going down, since descending places more strain on the knees, she said. Lower-impact alternatives—walking on flat ground, swimming, water aerobics, stationary cycling, and seated strength exercises—can offer similar benefits without the joint stress.

“The goal is to find movement that challenges your muscles and heart without aggravating your joints or putting you at risk of falling,” Chakoian said.

Note: Health Nuggets are opinions and not medical advice.

Tech Update

Starlink Mobile News

A couple years ago I worked for a high tech wireless communications company that moved into a brand new office space, which we were all excited about. Once inside, however, we soon realized the building's high tech glass prevented cellular coverage from penetrating inside. It was ironic and a bit embarrassing to tell someone I needed to go outside to make a call, when I worked in the wireless industry.

SpaceX recently announced two major wins that will enable Starlink Mobile to connect your mobile devices from space, even to indoor locations and devices. How is this possible? Without getting too technical, it all has to do with the frequency of the radio spectrum being used. Low frequencies are best for penetrating walls, which is what SpaceX acquired with their purchase of up to 14 megahertz of paired spectrum in the 800mhz band, for U.S. nationwide use. 

In combination with their current high frequency service, they will now have the complete range to rival earth based traditional mobile operators.

The other major win for them was getting FCC approval for launching 15,000 Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) satellites in a much lower altitude orbit, of about 330km versus 550km. This will allow most existing mobile devices to easily connect to their satellite network without special satellite chips. They plan to start the initial rollout as soon as next year, causing a shaking of stocks of all the major mobile operators, which dropped 5-10% on the news.

Starlink Mobile already offers their Direct to Cell services which provides emergency coverage via satellite through select mobile operators, including Tmobile in the U.S and Rogers in Canada. It’s good to have when you’re in an area without mobile service, like when hiking in remote areas, or when mobile service is down due to weather disasters.

Financial Update

Silver’s 50% Plunge & “What Comes Next?”

Earlier this year, investors saw the “silver lining” when the precious metal prices surged to around $121.79 per ounce in January 2026, setting a new record. However, by October 16, silver had fallen to around $57.3, more than 50% below its peak. The dramatic reversal raises two questions: What drove the decline, and which price levels are markets watching now? 

Silver’s rally had several supporting forces. Like gold, silver can attract investors seeking precious metals during periods of financial uncertainty. However, silver has an additional characteristic: it is an important industrial input used in electronics, solar panels, electrical equipment, and other technologies. Investment demand, industrial consumption, and concerns about supply all helped support prices during the rally. But rapid price increases can also attract speculative buying, leaving a market vulnerable when sentiment changes.

The subsequent decline reflects a reversal in several market conditions. Higher oil prices have renewed inflation concerns, while rising Treasury yields and expectations of tighter monetary policy have increased the opportunity cost of holding silver, which pays no interest. A stronger U.S. dollar can add further pressure. Meanwhile, concerns about slower economic growth may weigh on expectations for industrial silver demand. Silver's dual role as a precious metal and industrial commodity can amplify both rallies and sell-offs.

Technical analysts are now watching several important price zones. Support refers to an area where buying has previously emerged, while resistance describes an area where selling has previously limited advances. Around $55–$57 represents a near-term support area following the latest decline. If that zone fails to hold, the mid-$50s, and potentially the psychologically important $50 level, could come into focus. On the upside, approximately $59–$60 is an initial recovery zone, followed by resistance around $62–$63. A sustained move above that area could indicate improving short-term momentum, although it would not, by itself, establish a lasting reversal.

These levels are reference points, not guarantees. Support can break, resistance can be conquered, and technical signals can change quickly in volatile commodity markets.

Takeaway

Silver's decline illustrates how quickly sentiment can shift when interest rates, inflation expectations, the dollar, and industrial demand interact. Its long-term uses in electronics and energy technology remain relevant, but those applications do not prevent substantial short-term price swings.

The broader lesson is that a large decline does not automatically make an asset undervalued, just as a record high does not necessarily mean its rally is over. Understanding both the underlying economic drivers and the market's technical structure provides a more complete picture of silver's place in the global economy.

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