still healing

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Rejoice! A Savior is born Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! Love, Steve, Wendy, Chris, Jake & Zach, 2006

Season's Greetings 2005 May God Bless your family this year! Love, The Moores

May the Lord bless your family with fun and laughter - 2010, Steve, Wendy, Jake and Zach Moore

ALL Things Are Possible

Voice of Victory - Kenneth Copeland Ministries - 03/01/2007
by Melanie Henry

Wendy Moore's total healing from ALS.

A flashing red light cast an eerie glow over the snow as the ambulance slid to a stop next to a wrecked car. Wendy Moore jumped out of the ambulance and went to work – carefully trying to free the man inside from the twisted metal that had once bee his vehicle. Her breath huffed into white clouds in the frigid air. It was a fresh wreck and a fragile life, but after five years as a paramedic, Wendy knew the drill well.

Making sure they kept the man's neck and back properly aligned and immobile, she and her partner moved him onto a backboard. Bending her knees deeply, she squatted low, grabbed one end of the backboard and signaled her partner to lift. "Let's go!" she said, flexing her quadriceps to stand. One end of the backboard rose, but Wendy's end did not. Not again! Willing her muscles to work, she struggled to stand. Turning to the ambulance driver, she offered a crooked smile. "Could you lend me a hand here?" What's wrong with me? Wendy thought as the ambulance screamed its way to the hospital. At home that evening, Wendy sat on the floor playing with her son, Jacob. When Jacob toddled off after a toy, she tried to stand up. Once again, her thighs felt fatigued and didn't respond to the command.

Wendy scheduled an appointment with a neurologist who ordered an MRI, an electromyogram (EMG) and took a muscle biopsy of her thigh.

"There's nothing clinically wrong," the neurologist explained.

He prescribed antidepressants.

A few weeks later, Wendy answered a 911 call to a residence. Trudging up the snowy stairs to the front porch, her muscles failed her again and she had trouble navigating the steps. There was just one thing to do. Since she could no longer trust her ability to handle the physical challenges of her job, Wendy cut back her hours as a paramedic and began working primarily as a 911 dispatcher.

The muscles weakness continued into June of 2000 when Wendy became pregnant with her second child. By February 2001, her condition had deteriorated to the point that she could no longer squat and stand, so her physician referred her to the University of Michigan for a neurology exam.

"Your muscle weakness is so severe we don't think you'll be able to push during delivery," the neurologist explained after his exam. "You'll need to have a C-section. Come back after the baby is born and we'll do more invasive test."

On March 15, 2007, Wendy gave birth to her second son, Zachary. A few weeks later, on April l7, she, her husband, Steve, and her parents arrived at the University of Michigan neurology clinic. After conducting several tests, the chief neurologist sat down with Wendy and her family. "The disease you have is called ALS, which stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease," she said. "It's a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the motor nerves in the brain and spinal cord. The nerves die, making it impossible for the brain to signal the muscle to move. When the nerves can non longer send impulses to the muscles, the muscles waste away."

Tears streamed down Wendy's face. "Am I going to die?" "Do you really want to know?" the doctor asked. "Yes! My sons are only 2 1/2 years old and 5 weeks!"
"The disease is almost invariably fatal." came the answer. "Fifty percent of patients diagnosed with ALS live only two or five years. You'll be fully disabled soon. I suggest you go on Social Security and spend what time you have left with your children."

"My children will never know me!" Wendy sobbed in her husband's arms as they left the clinic.

I was only 27 years old when I got the diagnosis," Wendy recalls. "Back home, I cried night and day I felt as though a dark shadow had settled over me and I couldn't fight my way out of it. Although she was scheduled to return to work following her maternity leave, Wendy told her boss she might not return at all. He supported whatever decision she and Steve made.
Doctors prescribed only one drug for Wendy. It cost $700 a month.

"I was told it might prolong my life by three to six months," Wendy said. "I took the drug for a while, but it had a negative effect on my white blood count so the doctor discontinued it. There were only l4 ALS Centers in the whole country, and one of them was at the University of Michigan. If anyone could have offered medical help, they were the ones.

"My family was particularly distraught because one of my dad's relatives had died of the same disease l0 years before," Wendy said. "The symptoms progress until the patient trips, falls, has slurred speech and loses motor control. When the nerves can't signal the lungs to breathe, you suffocate."

Both Wendy and Steve's families were Christians, and they rallied around her with emotional and physical support. But Wendy's Aunt Jan went one crucial step further.
"This isn't God's plan for Wendy!" she declared. "This disease is from the devil. God's got a lot of promises for healing, and you've got to learn them."

Jan picked up the phone and called a local Bible school she'd attended and found out that the school was just beginning a teaching on healing. Steve stayed home with the children while Wendy attended the school.

"I wasn't just encouraged to go," Wendy recalls. "My whole family- mother, father, and two brothers – all enrolled with me! Each week for three hours, we sat as a family under in-depth teaching from the Word of God ….

we learned what the Bible had to say about healing.

"We learned that Jesus was bruised for our transgressions and by His stripes we were healed at Calvary. We learned that the full meaning of salvation includes wholeness, health, peace and prosperity.

"In addition to Bible school, Dad recorded Kenneth Copeland's television broadcast each day. Every night the whole family gathered to watch it. My family put me on prayer lines at KCM, John Hagee Ministries, the 700 Club and many other ministries nationwide.

"After a few weeks in Bible school, I felt the first glimmer of hope as I started getting God's Word in my heart. I learned to be very careful about what I said. I also learned that faith without works is dead. I realized that if I was going to walk by faith I couldn't sit home and collect disability."

Wendy went to her boss and announced, "I'm coming back to work. I'm standing on the Word of God that says I'm says I'm healed. I don't want anyone feeling sorry for me. I don't want a pity party. I expect to pull my weight. If I need help, I'll ask."

Wendy had been thrust into a fight for her life, and the worst part of the battle wasn't physical – it was mental. It seemed as though Satan had gotten wind of her faith stand and was determined to undermine it.

To fight back, her family printed pages of healing scriptures which Wendy taped on her bathroom mirror and on the refrigerator. They wallpapered the house with the Word of God. Day after day, Wendy confessed God's Word over her situation. Family members posted the same scriptures in their homes, and confessed them over her situation as well.

When Wendy began suffering muscle twitches, she agonized, knowing they were a sign she was worse. The first time she tripped and fell, she sobbed in despair.

Although the slurred speech, muscle twitching, tripping and falling continued, with her family's strong support, Wendy continued to stand, refusing to leave work or give in to her symptoms.
After three months, Wendy returned to the University of Michigan for a follow-up exam. "You're doing well," they reported. "You're stable, although you've lost some strength. How are you coping?"

"I'm back at work full-time," Wendy explained. "I'm also attending Bible school. We believe that by Jesus' stripes I am healed."

"You're working full time?" the doctors asked incredulously. "You're working a 40-hour week?"
"Yes, plus going to Bible school and taking care of my children."
"Well, whatever you're doing, keep doing it."

The biggest foe in Wendy's life wasn't ALS. It was fear. Fear stalking her every waking moment. It covered her life like a shroud. It met her in her dreams and dogged her every step.
The spirit of fear reminded her of the family member who'd already died from the disease. It reminded her of all the good Christians who die prematurely.

She countered with the Word. "My people perish daily for a lack of knowledge," she said. "Without faith it is impossible to please God."

She meditated daily on 3 John 2, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." (New King James Version)

"That scripture meant so much to me," Wendy remembers. "In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus instructed us to pray for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. There is no sickness in heaven, and those scriptures make it clear that it's not God's will that we be sick. The more I meditated on these scriptures the stronger my faith grew.

"One of my most fervent prayers was that my healing would be verified by the doctors and that they would reverse their diagnosis."

Wendy's one-year checkup in April 2002 proved she was still stable. Her mother asked the doctors to repeat their original tests.

"There's no need," they explained. "All of Wendy's tests were conclusive for ALS. We would never give that diagnosis if we weren't sure."

Wendy and her family continued speaking and meditating on the Word. They continued to attend classes at the Bible school, to watch the Believer's Voice of Victory broadcast, and to stand dogged in their faith. Wendy also continued her work schedule on the job, as well being a mother to her sons and a wife to her husband.

Wendy Moore didn't merely stay alive- she lived.
Eventually the slurred speech and muscle twitching stopped. Wendy stopped tripping and falling.
In August 2003, more that two years after her original diagnosis, Wendy reported back to the University of Michigan for her exam. Once again, she was stable.
The following month, she arrived home and found a message on her answering machine. "You have an atypical case of ALS," the message said. "We would like for you to come back and repeat the original tests."
October 20, 2003, Wendy rubbed moist palms on her slacks as needles were stuck into her back, head and the rest of her body. Electrical currents ran painfully through the needles to her nerves.
She was peppered with questions, probed and thoroughly tested. Sitting up after her ordeal, she saw the whole team staring at her.

"So, what's going on?" she asked.

"Wendy," the chief neurologist said, "you don't have ALS."

Wendy felt the words wash over her like a breath of God's love.

"We don't understand what's happened here. Although the original nerve death we observed is still there, your nerves aren't dying off anymore. You look like someone who had polio 50 years ago and whose body has healed."

The nurse sobbed. "I'm so happy for you! We never get to tell people this!"

When Wendy's family was ushered into the room, they found her sitting with her head in her hands, sobbing. "What's wrong?" her dad asked.

Wendy lifted her head and said, "I don't have ALS."

The family became so emotional the medical team left them alone to rejoice. Steve would have his wife by his side to watch each milestone in their children's lives. Her parents would have their daughter. Her daughter would have a mother.

"I've never felt so close to heaven as I did at that moment," Wendy says. "The presence of God was so incredibly tangible. It seemed as if the Lord was saying, "You stood on My Word and now I'm showing Myself to you."

It's been five years since Wendy Moore was diagnosed with ALS. Today, she is a 911 supervisor, while Steve works as a police officer and a paramedic. Jacob and Zachary are now 8 and 5 years old. After working her grueling 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. shifts, Wendy cheers on the sidelines during each football game, karate practice, wrestling match and baseball inning.

"Kenneth Copeland Ministries showed me how to walk by faith," Wendy says. "They taught me that trials will come, but Jesus will bring us through them all triumphantly."

Perhaps the most important lesson Wendy learned is the one that is printed on her checks and written on the tablets of her heart.

For with God ALL things are possible.

Book titled,"Anointing for Healing", by Melanie Hemry published by Whitaker House Publishers September 2007 includes Wendy Moore's healing testimony. Book price $14.99. Wendy's Mother is Janice Charchan of Flint, Michigan.

Wendy Moore's Favorite Scriptures:
Hebrews 1:11

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidance of things not seen."
III John 1:2

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth."
Luke 1:37

""... for with God nothing shall be impossible."
James 2:26

"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."
I John 5:4

""...for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith."

Miracle Healing from Lou Gehrig Disease

Woman Miraculously Healed of Incurable ALS (Lou Gehrig's)

Motor neuron disease healed

YES MIRACLES DO HAPPEN!!!!!

Stitch by Stitch - Javier Colon

Just an update.........he's putting me back together , stitch by stitch

SPIRULINA

Ignored Since the 1950s - Now a 'Miracle' High-Protein Super Food?

Posted By Dr. Mercola | July 01 2011 | 53,126 views

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Imagine a plant that can nourish your body by providing most of the protein you need to live, help prevent the annoying sniffling and sneezing of allergies, reinforce your immune system, help you control high blood pressure and cholesterol and help protect you from cancer.Does such a “super food” exist?

Yes. It’s called spirulina.

Unlike plants you may grow in your garden, this “miracle” plant is a form of blue-green algae that springs from warm, fresh water bodies.

Spirulina vs Chlorella -- Similarities and Differences

Chlorella is another form of algae that is sometimes confused with spirulina. The fundamental difference between spirulina and chlorella is that spirulina is many thousands of years older and does not possess the hard cell wall that makes chlorella closer to being a plant than algae.

Chlorella is an excellent way to detoxify your body from mercury, which most of you are contaminated with if you’ve ever had dental fillings, received a vaccine, used certain types of cookware or eaten fish. Spirulina simply is unable to remove heavy metals like chlorella as it lacks a cell membrane.

Chlorella has also been proven to be of benefit to those who suffer from degenerative disease. This report, however, will focus on the specific benefits that can be attributed to spirulina in particular.

Spirulina History -- Could This Super Food Help End World Hunger?

Spirulina is a simple, one-celled organism that got its name from the Latin word for ‘helix’ or ‘spiral’ because of its spring-like physical characteristic. Its scientific name is Arthrospira platensis, and it belongs to the cyanobacteria family.

The use of spirulina as a food source dates all the way back to 9^th century Chad and it is believed spirulina was used by the Aztecs in 16^th century Mexico. Historical records report the harvesting and selling of cakes made from spirulina harvested from Lake Texcoco. It was rediscovered in the 1950’s in the same place where it has said to have its origins by a European scientific mission. The spirulina was being harvested and sold in dried flat cakes called, “dihé” at the local markets where natives would use it as a staple for many of their meals.

Spirulina didn’t come into commercial production until the 1970’s when a French company began the first large-scale spirulina production plant. Within a few years, America and Japan began producing their own spirulina.

Today, these nutrient-rich algae are being used around the world to help treat illness and are being seriously discussed as a sustainable source of food with the potential to end world hunger. Unlike most plants, which need to be cultivated and nurtured, spirulina is a survivor, able to withstand extreme temperature variations and neglect and still thrive. According to studies, spirulina is being successfully used to treat a wide variety of ailments, including those who’ve been poisoned by arsenic-contaminated water.

How Spirulina Helped Save Millions from Arsenic Poisoning

Most of us take clean, healthy drinking water for granted. Unfortunately, in some countries like Bangladesh, it is a luxury. As I stated in this previous article, much of the Bangladesh water supply is loaded with arsenic and up until the mid-1990s, little could be done to treat dying arsenic poisoning patients.

Bangladeshi researchers conducted a three-month-hospital-based study where spirulina was given to 33 patients while 17 received placebo doses. 82 percent of those taking spirulina showed tremendous improvement.

An Immune-System Power-Boost -- Spirulina’s Impact on Candida and AIDS

According to a study done by the Department of Aquataculture in Taiwan, spirulina shows significant immune-boosting properties. Researchers exposed white shrimp to seawater containing a hot-water extract of spirulina before transferring them to seawater with a pH level of 6.8. The control group was not exposed to spirulina.

The shrimp exposed to the spirulina seawater showed a faster and more promising recovery rate to the high levels of pH than those not given the dose of spirulina first.

Now, let’s take a look at what this immune-system boosting power can mean for you:

Candida

If you have an autoimmune disease such as Crohn’s disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, Lupus or fibromyalgia, chronic candida yeast can both cause and worsen your symptoms. Spirulina has been shown to encourage and support the growth of healthy bacterial flora in your gut, which can help keep candida overgrowth under control.

HIV and AIDS

Drugs such as AZT used to treat HIV and AIDS patients can actually cause the symptoms they are supposed to cure. However, spirulina has been shown to help inactivate the human immunodeficiency virus associated with HIV and AIDS.

Nothing to Sneeze At

If you suffer from seasonal or perennial allergies, you’re not alone. Millions of people are allergic to pollen, ragweed, dust, mold, pet dander and a myriad other environmental contaminants, ensuring the makers of Kleenex will always stay in business.

Unfortunately, many people who have allergic rhinitis treat it with prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that often do more harm than good. Antihistamines are designed to suppress your immune system, which leads to decreased resistance to disease and dependence on the drug. Certain asthma drugs have been linked to serious side effects as well.

This is where natural methods such as the use of spirulina come in. According to one study, patients treated with spirulina reported relief of symptoms commonly associated with allergic rhinitis, such as nasal discharge and congestion, sneezing and itching when given spirulina.

Balances Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a serious health concern that affects millions of Americans today. If you have high blood pressure, you are at increased risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke.

The good news is, following a healthy nutritional plan, getting adequate exercise and applying stress modification techniques such as the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) can help normalize blood pressure and get you back on track to optimal health. According to a study done by the Department of Biochemistry in Mexico, 4.5 grams of spirulina given each day, was shown to regulate blood pressure among both women and men between the ages of 18-65 years with no other dietary changes made during the 6 weeks the experiment was run.

For more information about high blood pressure and how to normalize it without resorting to potentially dangerous drugs, please see this link.

Help to Normalize Cholesterol Naturally

Are you on a cholesterol medication? Tens of millions of people take cholesterol-lowering medications every day and, according to “experts”, millions more should be taking them, including children! If you are skeptical about this recommendation please see this page, which contains a list of articles addressing the dangers of statin drugs.

Statin drugs are responsible for a host of unwanted and dangerous side effects including:

• Sexual dysfunction
• Anemia
• Immune depression
• Acidosis
• Pancreas or liver dysfunction (including a potential increase in liver enzymes)
• Cataracts
• Increased cancer risk

Cholesterol-lowering medications have also been linked to severe muscle problems such as polyneuropathy (nerve damage in the hands and feet) and rhabdomyolysis (a serious degenerative muscle tissue condition). There is even evidence to suggest that taking statins can increase your risk of developing Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Thankfully, there are natural ways to lower your cholesterol. Avoiding fructose and grains, and getting appropriate exercise top the list (for more information, please see this previous article), but spirulina may also help. According to a study done on elderly male and female patients ages 60-87, those given 8 grams of spirulina per day for 16 consecutive weeks showed lower cholesterol levels than those who were given a placebo.

Lowers Stroke Risk

Those with sickle-cell anemia or congenital heart defects are at greater risk for a condition called brain ischemia or cerebral ischemia. Brain ischemia refers to a lack of blood flow to your brain, which causes oxygen deprivation and can lead to a stroke. Just ten seconds of interrupted blood flow to your brain can cause unconsciousness and lead to serious health consequences.

In a study done by Dr. Andhra Pradesh of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology in India, it was found that a dosage of 180mg of spirulina had a protective effect on the brain and nervous system of rats exposed to high amounts of free radicals, compared to rats not given the spirulina before the experiment. This lab test shows the promising effect of spirulina on stroke prevention.

Helps Reduce Cancer Risk

Cancer is the leading killer of adult Americans under 70 and in the case of this frightening disease, prevention is worth much more than a pound of cure. It could literally save your life.

My first recommendation in cutting your cancer risk is to eliminate sugar/fructose, grains, and processed foods from your diet. Additives such as fructose feed cancer cells and help them to thrive. I also recommend healthy sun exposure, which will boost your levels of natural vitamin D and help cut your cancer risk by half!

But spirulina may have potential benefits here as well. According to a study done in China, selenium-infused spirulina inhibited the growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

Healthy for Vegetarians -- More Protein than Red Meat

When you think of protein, you probably imagine sitting down to a meal of organic eggs or grass-fed beef or maybe even drinking a whey protein shake.

If you’re a vegetarian, you may turn to plant-protein sources such as nuts, beans, lentils and soy products. Unfortunately, soy is not the health food it claims to be. None of the above-mentioned sources of protein compare to the protein punch delivered by spirulina. Spirulina is 65-71 percent complete protein compared to beef, which is only 22 percent, and lentils, which is only 26 percent.

In addition to being protein-rich, spirulina is an excellent source of vital amino acids and minerals easily assimilated by your body. You would need to consume only two tablespoons of spirulina as a protein substitute for a meal.

Optimal Spirulina -- Types and Dosing

There are many types of spirulina out there so it is important to do your homework before making a purchase. Since spirulina grown in an uncontrolled environment has the potential to become contaminated with heavy metals and other toxins, it is important to choose organic spirulina from a reputable source.

Spirulina comes in capsules, tablets, powders and flakes. Dosing depends on what you plan to use spirulina for and to whom it is given. Here are some typical recommendations:

• Child’s maintenance dose: 5 grams per day
• Child’s disease-fighting dose: 10 grams per day
• Adult’s maintenance dose: 10 grams per day
• Adult’s disease-fighting dose: 20 grams per day
• Athlete’s dose: 60 grams per day

Remember to increase your intake of spring or filtered water when taking spirulina to help it absorb into your system.

An Important Note on Dosing

In addition to being your powerhouse of essential vitamins and minerals, spirulina is a potent detoxifier. For that reason, it is best to start with a small dose and work your way up.

For example, if you are an adult who wishes to take the typical maintenance dose of 10 grams per day, you would benefit from beginning with one quarter or half this dose to start. Once you see how your body responds, you can then gradually increase your intake to the full recommended dose.

Potential Adverse Reactions

Spirulina is a safe source of protein, nutrients, vitamins and minerals that has been used for centuries. Though there are no known side effects associated with spirulina, your body may react to it based on your current state of health. Let’s take a look at some of those reactions, what they mean, and what you can do to alleviate them.

The most prominent reactions you may experience are:

• Slight Fever -- The high protein content in spirulina increases metabolism, which may elevate body temperature.)
• Dark Green Waste Matter -- Spirulina can remove accumulated waste product in your colon, which may cause darker stool. Also, spirulina is high in chlorophyll. This will also turn waste matter green.
• Excessive Passing of Gas -- This may indicate that your digestive system is not functioning properly or you have an extreme build-up of gas.
• Feelings of Excitement -- Your body is converting protein into heat energy, which may cause temporary feelings of restlessness.
• Breakouts and Itchy Skin -- This is caused by colon cleansing process and is only temporary.
• Sleepiness -- This is caused by the detoxification process and may indicate your body is exhausted and needs better rest.

Remember, your body may go through an adjustment period with spirulina and your best bet to reduce reaction is to dose gradually to see how your body will react. Increase your water intake, reduce your stress levels, eat according to your nutritional type and get plenty of rest.

Important Contraindications for Spirulina

Even though spirulina is entirely natural and generally considered a healthful food, there are some contraindications you need to be aware of. You should not take spirulina if you have a severe seafood or iodine allergy. And, if you are pregnant or nursing or have hyperthyroidism, consult your healthcare provider before taking spirulina.

Conclusion

As you can see, spirulina can serve as a potent ‘super food.’ Just remember to do your research and arm yourself with knowledge. It is the best way to take control of your health!

- Fix You

Dean Ornish, M.D. - Transform 2010 - Mayo Clinic

Depression by L. LaMendola

The Psychological Impact of Being Diagnosed With Disease

It's one thing to have Lupus, but its entirely another to be told you have a chronic life threatening disease. Oh and by the way, there is not cure for it! Being diagnosed with any disease is devastating enough, but those that have a common thread of not being treatable by mankind is quite another. There is no light at the end of the tunnel when you hear those words. It is this that starts the cycle of depression...

And who could blame you? Its not like your family's helping are they? They don't believe your sick do they? They're either scared they will have to take care of you or worse they could get it too!

That one little word, depression, makes or breaks you. Are you going to just wither away and let yourself be defeated or are you going to go within? Go find your God and ask for answers? If you don't then you will die....emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Not all at once, oh no that would be to easy. No, we will let you suffer and play mind games with you until you realize that there are answers and that there is a calm after the storm and that you can find what you are looking for if you would only allow yourself to.

There's the magic word....allow. We allow ourselves to be told the worse, but we don't allow ourselves to believe beyond those words we were just told....you have a chronic illness. We get stuck in the negative connotation of the words and sink into a hell on earth. We reach out to family and friends only to find they are far away. The depression gets worse because now I need help to do the most simple things but no one will help. No one will offer. No one cares.

Do you see how the mind can play games on you? Sure, friends may have fallen away but you haven't. You have a voice, you have a name and you have the ability to reach out beyond the cosmos to find answers. The only question you have to ask yourself is are you ready? Not everyone is, not everyone is ready to face all that is wrong in their life and work past it, even if that means discarding those in your life that cause you to stay ill in the first place. We don't like to see it.....we don't like to walk away form our friend and family. If we do then who will be there for us? The ones who love you unconditionally..... because not everyone does.

Get ready, hang on, find the courage.....the time is now. Do not let mental illness knock on your door just because you have been given a diagnosis. Its not the disease that matters, its what you do with it that does!

Posted by Lisa LaMendola

Autoimmune Disease: How to Stop Your Body From Attacking Its

GOD IS NOT A CHRISTIAN

The following is excerpted from the Archbishop Desmond Tutu's new book, 'God Is Not A Christian: And Other Provocations.'

This talk also comes from a forum in Britain, where Tutu addressed leaders of different faiths during a mission to the city of Birmingham in 1989.

They tell the story of a drunk who crossed the street and accosted a pedestrian, asking him, "I shay, which ish the other shide of the shtreet?" The pedestrian, somewhat nonplussed, replied, "That side, of course!" The drunk said, "Shtrange. When I wash on that shide, they shaid it wash thish shide." Where the other side of the street is depends on where we are. Our perspective differs with our context, the things that have helped to form us; and religion is one of the most potent of these formative influences, helping to determine how and what we apprehend of reality and how we operate in our own specific context.

My first point seems overwhelmingly simple: that the accidents of birth and geography determine to a very large extent to what faith we belong. The chances are very great that if you were born in Pakistan you are a Muslim, or a Hindu if you happened to be born in India, or a Shintoist if it is Japan, and a Christian if you were born in Italy. I don't know what significant fact can be drawn from this -- perhaps that we should not succumb too easily to the temptation to exclusiveness and dogmatic claims to a monopoly of the truth of our particular faith. You could so easily have been an adherent of the faith that you are now denigrating, but for the fact that you were born here rather than there.

My second point is this: not to insult the adherents of other faiths by suggesting, as sometimes has happened, that for instance when you are a Christian the adherents of other faiths are really Christians without knowing it. We must acknowledge them for who they are in all their integrity, with their conscientiously held beliefs; we must welcome them and respect them as who they are and walk reverently on what is their holy ground, taking off our shoes, metaphorically and literally. We must hold to our particular and peculiar beliefs tenaciously, not pretending that all religions are the same, for they are patently not the same. We must be ready to learn from one another, not claiming that we alone possess all truth and that somehow we have a corner on God.

We should in humility and joyfulness acknowledge that the supernatural and divine reality we all worship in some form or other transcends all our particular categories of thought and imagining, and that because the divine -- however named, however apprehended or conceived -- is infinite and we are forever finite, we shall never comprehend the divine completely. So we should seek to share all insights we can and be ready to learn, for instance, from the techniques of the spiritual life that are available in religions other than our own. It is interesting that most religions have a transcendent reference point, a mysterium tremendum, that comes to be known by deigning to reveal itself, himself, herself, to humanity; that the transcendent reality is compassionate and concerned; that human beings are creatures of this supreme, supra mundane reality in some way, with a high destiny that hopes for an everlasting life lived in close association with the divine, either as absorbed without distinction between creature and creator, between the divine and human, or in a wonderful intimacy which still retains the distinctions between these two orders of reality.

When we read the classics of the various religions in matters of prayer, meditation, and mysticism, we find substantial convergence, and that is something to rejoice at. We have enough that conspires to separate us; let us celebrate that which unites us, that which we share in common.

Surely it is good to know that God (in the Christian tradition) created us all (not just Christians) in his image, thus investing us all with infinite worth, and that it was with all humankind that God entered into a covenant relationship, depicted in the covenant with Noah when God promised he would not destroy his creation again with water. Surely we can rejoice that the eternal word, the Logos of God, enlightens everyone -- not just Christians, but everyone who comes into the world; that what we call the Spirit of God is not a Christian preserve, for the Spirit of God existed long before there were Christians, inspiring and nurturing women and men in the ways of holiness, bringing them to fruition, bringing to fruition what was best in all. We do scant justice and honor to our God if we want, for instance, to deny that Mahatma Gandhi was a truly great soul, a holy man who walked closely with God. Our God would be too small if he was not also the God of Gandhi: if God is one, as we believe, then he is the only God of all his people, whether they acknowledge him as such or not. God does not need us to protect him. Many of us perhaps need to have our notion of God deepened and expanded. It is often said, half in jest, that God created man in his own image and man has returned the compliment, saddling God with his own narrow prejudices and exclusivity, foibles and temperamental quirks. God remains God, whether God has worshippers or not.

This mission in Birmingham to which I have been invited is a Christian celebration, and we will make our claims for Christ as unique and as the Savior of the world, hoping that we will live out our beliefs in such a way that they help to commend our faith effectively. Our conduct far too often contradicts our profession, however. We are supposed to proclaim the God of love, but we have been guilty as Christians of sowing hatred and suspicion; we commend the one whom we call the Prince of Peace, and yet as Christians we have fought more wars than we care to remember. We have claimed to be a fellowship of compassion and caring and sharing, but as Christians we often sanctify sociopolitical systems that belie this, where the rich grow ever richer and the poor grow ever poorer, where we seem to sanctify a furious competitiveness, ruthless as can only be appropriate to the jungle.

DOES PRAYER HEAL DISEASE

In medicine, we see the touch of God all the time, but it is called "spontaneous remission." If it happens at a prayer meeting, then God gets the credit! Otherwise it is just said to be one of those inexplicable marvels of the human body.

Is there any science that tells us whether prayer is working or not? You bet!

Dr. Randolph Byrd, a Christian cardiologist, conducted a study in 1984 that has led to a resurgence of scientific evaluation of the effect of prayer on healing.

393 patients, admitted to the coronary care unit at San Francisco General Hospital, over a 10 month period were randomly selected, by computer, to either a 201 patient control group or the 192 patients who were prayed for daily by 5-7 people in home prayer groups. This was a randomized, double-blind experiment in which neither the patients, nurses, nor doctors knew which group the patients were in.

Dr. Byrd discovered a definite pattern of obvious differences between the control group and those prayed for:

1) None of those prayed for required endotracheal intubation compared with twelve in the control group requiring the insertion of an artificial airway in the throat.

2) The prayed for group experienced fewer cases of pneumonia and cardiopulmonary arrests.

3) Those prayed for were five times less likely to require antibiotics.
4) The prayed for group were three times less likely to develop pulmonary edema, a condition where the lungs fill with fluid.

5) Fewer patients in the prayed for group died.

Dr. Larry Dossey, M.D., referring to Dr. Byrd's remarkable experiment, states that "If the technique being studied had been a new drug or a surgical procedure instead of prayer, it would almost certainly have been heralded as some sort of amazing breakthrough."

As you would expect, most doctors ignored the proven vallue of prayer.

Now a new study has confirmed yet again that prayer works.

The experiences of 24 Mozambicans, part of a study reported in the September issue of the Southern Medical Journal, a peer-reviewed journal, suggest to the researchers that "proximal intercessory prayer (PIP)" -- in which the healer is in close proximity to the patient, often touching or hugging him or her -- may be a useful complement to Western medical practice.

In this study, the degree of improvement seen in people with vision and hearing impairments was more than that seen previously in hypnosis or "suggestion" studies.

"We found a statistically significant effect of PIP for the population of both those with auditory and visual impairments," said study lead author Candy Gunther Brown, associate professor of religious studies at Indiana University in Bloomington.

"We didn't generally find that people who were totally deaf or blind to start with ended up with 20/20 vision and perfect hearing," she remarks, "But those with moderate to severe impairments when tested before the intervention, had a much, much improved threshold."

In "Cancer Confidential" I also looked into the research into what is called distant intercessory prayer. There was some evidence that even that works. But don't forget, that's not how people actually pray for healing, so researchers were not testing something valid.

[SOURCE: September 2010, Southern Medical Journal]

Not a Christian? I don't think it matters at all. You can pray to any higher authority you respect. It's a myth that prayer is somehow "Christian". It is common to all Mankind, as is the Creator, of course.

If you still haven't got "Cancer Confidential" eBook, there's a good price on it right now. You can get it by clicking on this link: Cancer Confidential.

Thanks,

DR KEITH

AWESOME

I cried forever. Tears of joy.

Lord, I Believe In You - Crystal Lewis

Well you know how my Mondays go, But i am please to announce that this is not one of them. I don't know why but I feel better and stronger. I pray this will continue.

Psalm 31

¹ O Lord, I have come to you for protection;

don’t let me be disgraced.
Save me, for you do what is right.
² Turn your ear to listen to me;
rescue me quickly.
Be my rock of protection,
a fortress where I will be safe.
³ You are my rock and my fortress.
For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger.
⁴ Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me,
for I find protection in you alone.
⁵ I entrust my spirit into your hand.
Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.

⁶ I hate those who worship worthless idols.
I trust in the Lord.
⁷ I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love,
for you have seen my troubles,
and you care about the anguish of my soul.
⁸ You have not handed me over to my enemies
but have set me in a safe place.

⁹ Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress.
Tears blur my eyes.
My body and soul are withering away.
¹⁰ I am dying from grief;
my years are shortened by sadness.
Sin has drained my strength;
I am wasting away from within.
¹¹ I am scorned by all my enemies
and despised by my neighbors—
even my friends are afraid to come near me.
When they see me on the street,
they run the other way.
¹² I am ignored as if I were dead,
as if I were a broken pot.
¹³ I have heard the many rumors about me,
and I am surrounded by terror.
My enemies conspire against me,
plotting to take my life.

¹⁴ But I am trusting you, O Lord,
saying, “You are my God!”
¹⁵ My future is in your hands.
Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.
¹⁶ Let your favor shine on your servant.
In your unfailing love, rescue me.
¹⁷ Don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord,
for I call out to you for help.
Let the wicked be disgraced;
let them lie silent in the grave.^[a]
18 Silence their lying lips—
those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.

¹⁹ How great is the goodness
you have stored up for those who fear you.
You lavish it on those who come to you for protection,
blessing them before the watching world.
²⁰ You hide them in the shelter of your presence,
safe from those who conspire against them.
You shelter them in your presence,
far from accusing tongues.

²¹ Praise the Lord,
for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love.
He kept me safe when my city was under attack.
²² In panic I cried out,
“I am cut off from the Lord!”
But you heard my cry for mercy
and answered my call for help.

²³ Love the Lord, all you godly ones!
For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him,
but he harshly punishes the arrogant.
²⁴ So be strong and courageous,
all you who put your hope in the Lord!

Baby steps

As I was taking my bath this morning, I dropped my soap and atoumatically just picked it up with one hand. No big deal right?? Except that from last August, I had to use both hands to hold my soap......

I think it is time to teach myself to write again!

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

This is a very interesting article.


Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

"Can't Give Up Now"

Someone asked, why I am so open about my feelings here. Well it is because this is no cake walk. Everyone who i haven't spoken to who have gone through this, have forgotten the daily struggle. I will too. Who wants to remember this daily pain. I Can't give up, I know the end of this story.

"Can't Give Up Now"

Rainy days and Mondays

Like the Carpenter's hit song, "Rainy days and Monday always get me down" I am wondering why. Well the rainy day thing is because of low barometric pressure which has been associated with a more depressive state or body aches, like a bad knee hurting more before a storm.

For me Mondays are so bad. Today I had to actually crawl out of bed and it felt like my legs would not work this morning. I decided to fight through this because I have to have faith. Well needless to say, 4 hours and 3 green smoothies later I feel back to "normal". This has been the same for months now.

I wonder why?? Could it be my bad weekend diet?
-less water
-more cook food
-1 green smoothie

I just don't know.

Mimi Kirk's Raw Onion Cracker