J.E. Solinski
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Changes?

6/27/2020

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I don’t think many of us have experienced this much unrest in our country in our lifetime. We have had health emergencies before. We have had political unrest before. We have had racial tension before. But never, to my knowledge, have we had to deal with all three at once. The perfect storm.

On all fronts, people are suggesting change or mandating it. They are pleading for change or demanding it. And . . . as Newton’s third law of physics states: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction” — to which we are all witnesses. And each side has its salient points.

So what will come of it all?

It is too hard to say right now. Some things could change permanently . . . as they did after the 9/11 attacks. Others might be rescinded, such as prohibition was, and others might be temporary as was the mandate to wear masks some cities imposed during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic.

There is fear on both sides. What is going to be the “new normal”? What happens if change doesn’t occur? What happens if it does? In our minds, change has an element of chance. Chance to succeed. Chance to fail.

In a world of humans, charged with emotion and various intents, some decisions will indeed be helpful while others could be hurtful. It is the nature of the beast.

In light of this uncertainty, it is comforting to know that one thing never needs to change and never will change––God. God remains the same.

“For I the Lord do not change . . .”––Malachi 3:6.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. ––James 1:17

God is loving, just, faithful, wise, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, good, merciful, gracious, and holy . . . just to name a few of His many characteristics.

So while the people of the world wrestle with how to solve the issues of the world, find solace in the fact that the creator of the world, the triune God, still has his hand on it and around us.

Your arm is endowed with power; your hand is strong, your right hand exalted. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, LORD. –– Psalm 89:13-15

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. –– Colossians 1:17

I will ask the Father to give you another Helper, to be with you always. –– John 14:16


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Summer . . .

6/20/2020

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If you are like me, because of the shutdown and the stay-at-home orders, one day just kind of melted into the next, weekends ceased to exist, and the weeks just piled up on top of each other until––suddenly––here we are . . . June 20 . . . the first day of summer.

For a year during which it felt like I could do very little, much has happened, and the first half of 2020 has just flown by. Now, I know those of you working from home and/or trying to teach or keep kids busy at home, you had June dog-eared on your calendar the moment the schools closed their doors and handed your offspring back to you, for June  meant that you could at least end one portion of your insane multi-tasking. 

In nature, summer is the period of growth. It is the respite between the two major working seasons . . . spring planting and fall harvest. The warm days are long, and though there is some work to be done during this time, weeding primarily, nature pretty much does its own thing.

Literature, always ripe with symbolism, furthers this idea as summer often refers to a character’s personal or relational growth and the prime of his or her life. 

Therefore, summer is more than just a reprieve. It is viewed as a time of freedom and fullness.

Whether we were aware of it or not, a lot of “seeds” were planted this past spring. Seeds of discord, of hope, of fear, of promise. Seeds of frustration and anxiety as well as peace and reflection. Regardless of how we view the events that have happened or the news we have been told, the personal discomforts or tragedies we have experienced or the opportunities that have arisen, “seeds” have been planted, and they will grow . . . quite easily on their own. 

So during this season of growth, we need to be careful to “weed” out the destructive sprouts and “water” those those that will make us better. Then when fall comes, and it’s time for the harvest, we will be stronger, more godly and God-honoring individuals.
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Remember: “As someone thinks within himself, so he is” (Proverbs 23:7).


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Guess What?

6/13/2020

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“Have I got an opportunity for you.”

As a teacher, you never wanted an administrator to open a conversation with those words because they were merely a euphemism for “I have more work I want you to do.” On most occasions, that was true, but on a few occasions, it also was an opportunity to move forward.

I say this because . . . have I got an opportunity for you.

Let me preface this with a bit of backstory.

I went to college to become a screenwriter. Four years later, however, I graduated having no clue what I wanted to do. Eventually, I landed in teaching . . . and never looked back. I loved it. (For a more detailed account please read my very first blog — 2/16/2015.)

But I also still loved writing, so when an “opportunity” presented itself, I took it.

Sometime in 1991 (I have no recollection now how) I came across a request from Standard Publishing for submissions to their weekly supplemental magazine for junior high and high school students. Each quarter a list of the weekly themes would be sent out via email. Writers could write to one or to all thirteen prompts. My submissions varied depending on time and inspiration. Acceptances varied as well, but I think I sold at least one each quarter.

It was great. It kept me writing. It forced me to hone my skills, and it encouraged me to try larger works.

Since I was working and coaching at the time, my free writing time was pretty limited, so besides working on the short stories, I started writing my novels . . . two pages a day. Some days those pages flew by and on others . . . well . . . I would sit and stare at the computer for a long time.

So why this backstory? Because I know some of you love to write. And some of you may not realize you love to write. That’s why when I came across the Christian Writers Submission Information website, I was excited . . . for both of us. Whether you like to write just for personal pleasure or you have higher aspirations, this website can give you that jump-start.   

It offers a list of publishers accepting open submissions and contests for all genres of writing.

So . . . If you love writing, or you just want to see if you love writing, take a look . . . and then take a chance. Happy writing!



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Some Good News . . .

6/6/2020

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It has been a rough few months and an even rougher past couple of weeks, hasn’t it? It’s about time for a bit of good news.

Like many, I took a break last Saturday from the now numbing news of corona virus and the acute pain of the death of George Floyd and its aftermath to watch the launch of the Space X Dragon carrying two American astronauts to the International Space Station. The first space launch from American soil in close to a decade.



It took me back years as I felt the same excitement and nervousness I had when I watched the Mercury (I think), the Gemini, the Apollo, and the Space Shuttle launches. I followed the NASA duo while they jettisoned the first two stages and were safely into orbit. I would have kept watching, but it was a nineteen hour ride, so I opted to tune back in the next morning and watch the docking.

Ironically, that same day (Saturday), my sister-in-law sent the family a link to a YouTube video based on the book The Privileged Planet:The Search for Purpose in the Universe by Guillermo Gonzalez and Jay Richards. I procrastinated opening it because I thought I knew what it was going to say . . . and I did . . . to a point.

In contrast to Carl Sagan’s assertion that Earth is merely an insignificant blue dot in a vast universe, Gonzalez and Richards claim that Earth is unique and rare. It exists in the only habitable zone in our solar system and has the twenty necessary factors needed for life, in the exact configuration needed, and all occurring simultaneously. Any variance at all, however slight, would be catastrophic. The probability of that occurring is infinitesimal.

I knew that. I had heard that before. I hadn’t, however, heard the next part.

That our position in the universe was also unique. That Earth is positioned in the only habitable zone in our galaxy. Not only that, it is perfectly positioned between two spiral gaseous arms to allow us to see the universe clearly, and it is located central in the galaxy to avoid the hazards of the dangerous middle and outer edges.

Because of its location, Earth is the one place that allows for scientific discovery at all levels––from geology to intergalactic exploration. The final irony? This vast universe is understandable to humans. Therefore, it begs discovery. And humans are driven to explore.

Neither Gonzales nor Richards believe this is by chance. Humans do not need to know this information in order to survive. These discoveries are beyond that. So why? What’s the purpose of it? Were we just lucky, or were we placed here by design?

I strongly encourage you to watch the hour-long documentary. It has so much more to say, and is fascinating. The additional thirty minutes are excerpts from the interviews with scientists that were not included in the documentary. That information is fascinating as well.

But let me leave you with a few verses that point to the reason we are where we are.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? (Psalm 8:3-4)

Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing. (Isaiah 40:26)

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)

As the documentary asserts –– because we are where we are, we can glimpse the mind of God.



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    Author

    Jody Eileen Solinski spent her career teaching in the California public school system where she enjoyed helping young adults take their place in society. A native Californian, she enjoys the outdoors and so loves living in Northern California where she can enjoy the beauty of God’s creation up close.

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