Absotively, Posilutely BRILLIANT!

Resolution on gluttony for this year's Southern Baptist Convention.

from Hebridean Altars

Seven times a day, as I work upon this hungry farm,

I say to Thee, 'Lord, why am I here?

What is there here to stir my gifts to growth?

What great thing can I do for others -

I who am captive to this dreary toil?'

And seven times a day Thou answerest,

'Once did My Son live thy life, and by His faithfulness did show

My mind, My kindness, and My truth to men.

But now He is come to My side, and thou must take His place.'

Revelation 21:6

It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. I am the Beginning and the End. Anyone who is thirsty may drink from the spring of the water of life. It doesn't cost anything!

A Difference that Makes a Difference

A picture in desperate need of a caption

Any ideas?

Proverbs 4:10-15

Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years.

I am teaching you the way of wisdom;

I am guiding you on straight paths.

When you walk, your steps will not be hindered;

when you run, you will not stumble.

Hold on to instruction; don't let go.

Guard it, for it is your life.
Don't set foot on the path of the wicked;

don't proceed in the way of evil ones.

Avoid it; don't travel on it.

Turn away from it, and pass it by.

They speak for themselves

Something to say thanks to mothers...

Because "you were there"...


Something to inspire...

There is NOTHING like family harmony!

Food for Thought

Quote from an interview with David Brin in the most recent Discover magazine:

Jonas Salk said our top job is to be "good ancestors." If we in this era meet the challenges of our time, then our heirs may have powers that would seem godlike to us -- the way we take for granted miracles like flying through the sky or witnessing events far across the globe. If those descendants do turn out to be better, wiser people than us, will they marvel that primitive beings managed so well, the same way we're awed by the best of our ancestors? I hope so.

Needles Used to Bother Me

After several months of living an almost "normal" life, nagging little problems with my necrotizing nemesis have nudged themselves back to the surface and are demanding more of my attention. Lately I've been distracted by a little problem called peripheral neuropathy. This problem is certainly not unique to MS...folks who suffer with diabetes and other ailments often encounter it, as well. It's the source of that "wet washrag" feeling in the legs, mostly, and my arms, some.

I know I could probably hide the worst of the symptom by resuming the high dose steroid treatments that were suspended in December. But the thought of getting a gram slug intravenously once a month again is not as appealing as it once was. Don't get me wrong...high dose steroids cover up alot of problems and made me feel like I could conquer Goliath with a watergun while blindfolded but they were starting to cause some other, sneakier problems like high blood pressure and weight gain. I was pushing 200 lbs. last November. Now I'm back to the 175 - 180 range...and my clothes fit better.

Anyway, I started studying a non-traditional medicine option...acupuncture. I had my first treatment this morning. It's expected to be a couple or three weeks before we can be sure if it might relieve some of the most aggravating and distracting pain.

After more than two years of more than 1" deep injections and 2" deep intravenous sticks, these little pin pricks were nothing...especially on my left side where sensation is greatly diminished anyway.

The acupuncturist is a precious little woman of difficult to determine age who is retired from teaching at our local college. She has a Ph.D in molecular biology. About a decade ago, she tried acupuncture in a desperate attempt to avoid major surgery to relieve pain from a back injury. In spite of her initial skepticism, it brought her great relief. She decided to study Chinese medicine and became convinced that some of their techniques, which seem quite bizzare to us well heeled occidentals, can be helpful in some cases.

Since completing her study and becoming certified to practice, she has built a word of mouth practice in one room of a local chiropractor's office. The environment is utterly professional looking. With the organized and thorough presentation style of an experienced college professor and with gentle, almost grandmotherly, hands, she took me through the first of what we expect to be about six weekly attempts to rein in some unruly nerve responses.

We'll see how it goes!

MS Activists in Action

You Tube War on the War

I have two friends who have diametricly opposed views on the war. They each, without the knowledge of the other, sent me video clip they like because it seems to reinforce their own view over the view of other. I don't find these messages in conflict with one another. Do you?

The Veto