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Posted on 3/23/2010 at 5:49 AM - Link

NEWS

Posted on 1/9/2006 at 6:36 AM - Link

Virginia

Posted on 1/3/2006 at 11:13 PM - Link

 

Francis P. Church was a crusading journalist who wrote both hard news and stinging editorials. A second generation newsman whose father had founded the New York Chronicle, Church was an editor for the New York Sun in 1897, when he was asked to answer a letter from an eight year old girl, Virginia O'Hanlon. Daughter of a New York City Policeman, Virginia would go on to teach and become an administrator in the New York City school system. But at eight, she wanted to know if there was a Santa Claus. Church, the hard-bitten, crusading journalist, the man of reason and reality, must have had a hard time answering. Yet his answer has become a classic. In the end, he talks about the things that make censorship the wrong that it is. He talks about a veil that cannot be torn aside by the strongest men, but can be glimpsed through faith, poetry, love and romance.
Here is the editorial, published by the New York Sun on September 21, 1897.

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below,
expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is
numbered among the friends of The Sun:

Dear Editor---
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says, "If you see it in The Sun, it's so." Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O'Hanlon

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a
skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which
is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or
children's, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his
intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence
capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.  He exists as certainly as love and generosity
and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its
highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were
no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias.
There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to
make tolerable this existence.   We should have no enjoyment, except
in sense and sight.  The external light with which childhood fills the world
would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get
your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus,
but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove?
Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real
things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see
fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there.
Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable
in the world.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside,
but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor
even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart.

Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and
picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in
all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God!
He lives and lives forever.  A thousand years from now, Virginia,
nay 10 times 10,000 years from now,
he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

More Studies Document Abortion's Dangers

Posted on 12/23/2005 at 9:05 PM - Link

ARGUMENTS AGAINST ABORTION (PART 2)

Posted on 12/8/2005 at 7:05 PM - Link

Arguments against abortion (part 2)   Arguments against abortion (part 2) by Andrew Lansdown There is confusion among people generally on the matter of abortion. This confusion is especially unhelpful at the present time, when (thanks to the efforts of certain pro-life politicians) abortion is making headlines in the newspapers and appears likely to be debated in the Federal Parliament. In an effort to clear up some of the confusions surrounding abortion, I offered several arguments in defence of the unborn* in the April issue of Life News. In this, the second instalment of a three-part article, I offer several more. Right to Choose Proponents of abortion claim to be “pro-choice”. Through this euphemism they imply that opponents of abortion are somehow opposed to women’s rights. This simply is not true. Those who support an unborn child’s right to life also support a woman’s right to choose in matters of sex, procreation and parenting. Every woman has a right to choose to marry or not to marry. She has a right to choose the times and circumstances for sexual intimacy with her husband. She has a right to choose to use or not to use non-abortive contraception. She has a right to choose to keep her child or (if she cannot cope) to offer him up for adoption. She has a right to receive full emotional and financial support from her child’s father. But she does not have a “right” to choose to kill her child. No such “right” exists. A woman’s right to choose is limited by her child’s right to life. The right to life underlies every other right, because without it a person cannot exercise any other right. No one enjoys the right to choose who does not first enjoy the right to life. Consequently, the right to life must take precedence over the right to choose. The right to choose is limited, but the right to life is absolute. Right to Life of the Mother Every human being has a right to life. This includes, of course, pregnant women. Consequently, on the exceptionally rare occasion when a woman is in mortal danger from the continuation of a pregnancy, her life cannot be forfeited against her will for the sake of the baby’s. Where there is a genuine conflict between the right to life of the child and the right to life of the mother, it is legitimate to choose in favour of the mother. However, “abortion” is hardly an appropriate term in such a tragic circumstance, for the intention is quite different. A doctor who induces labour and delivers the child of a woman who is about to die from toxaemia, for example, intends not to kill the child but to save the mother. And there is always the hope that the premature child, too, can be saved. If this hope proves vain, a death occurs, but not a murder. Women’s Issue Pro-abortionists often claim that abortion is a “women’s issue” about which men have no right to speak. While it is true that abortion is of particular concern to women, it is not of exclusive concern to them. Men are also concerned about it for six reasons. Firstly, all men were once unborn children. They therefore share a common heritage and humanity with the unborn. Having escaped abortion themselves, men have a legitimate concern to help others escape. Secondly, half the children aborted are males. Even if they are denied the right to defend unborn girls, men cannot be denied the right to speak against the killing of unborn boys. Thirdly, women do not get pregnant by themselves. Every child has a father, and fathers have a right to love and protect their sons and daughters. Fourthly, the right to life is not a gender-specific issue. Men have just as much interest in the sanctity of human life as women. Fifthly, men, no less than women, are moral beings capable of making moral judgments, even on matters outside their direct experience. Just as a person who is unaffected by ethnic cleansing in Rwanda or Bosnia can make a moral judgment about ethnic cleansing, so a person who is unaffected by abortion can make a moral judgment about abortion. Sixthly, men, no less than women, are emotional beings capable of empathising with others. They can—and many do—feel distress at the plight of babies who face a gruesome death by abortion. Furthermore, they can—and many do—feel distress at the plight of women who suffer grief and guilt after having abortions. They have a right, therefore, to strive to save babies from death and mothers from guilt. On a negative note, men have a right to speak against abortion because many of their own gender are implicated in the crime. Husbands and boyfriends often urge women to have abortions. Some even bully and blackmail women to do so. Good men have not just a right but an obligation to counter the actions of bad men. Besides, pro-abortionists are hypocritical when they demand that men keep out of the abortion issue. What they really mean is that pro-life men must keep out. They don’t at all mind male journalists writing pro-abortion articles or male politicians giving pro-abortion speeches or male judges giving pro-abortion rulings or male doctors performing abortions. They want to silence men (and women, for that matter) who don’t agree with them. Health Issue Many people claim that abortion is a “health issue”. This is quite untrue. Few of the 100,000 abortions performed annually in Australia are performed for health reasons. They are performed because men and women find it emotionally or socially or economically inconvenient to have a child. I don’t want a baby. I’m not ready to become a mother. My life will be disrupted. My career will be set back. My lifestyle will be ruined. Our relationship will suffer. These are the sorts of excuses women give for having abortions, and they clearly have no bearing on physical health. In all bar the most exceptional cases, abortion has nothing to do with preserving good health—at least, so far as the mother is concerned. As far as the baby is concerned, it destroys good health. Abortion, it has been said, is the only operation known to mankind where two people go into the operating theatre and only one comes out. Medical Complications In the context of health, it is worth noting that abortion is not always a routine, safe operation, as advocates of abortion would have women believe.Many complications can arise from the procedure. Haemorrhaging, laceration to the cervix, perforation of the uterus, infection in the fallopian tubes and/or the ovaries: these are some of the well-documented short-term complications that can arise from abortion. Long term complications can include heavy menstrual bleeding, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, infertility, and a heightened risk of breast cancer. Emotional Complications The possible medical complications are minor compared to the probable emotional complications arising from abortion. Guilt, depression and anger are experiences common to women who abort their babies. The emotional and mental trauma suffered by many women after abortion is poignantly expressed by one young woman, Samantha, in a university student newspaper. Samantha, a first year arts student, reveals how as a teenager she became pregnant to a twenty-one year old man. He refused to marry her, and her mother urged her to have an abortion. “My Mother had virtually convinced my Father that for me to have this baby would be the ruination of my life,” Samantha writes. “In retrospect, me not having the baby was the ruination of my life … I was 17, confused and severely emotionally traumatised. I passively accepted their solution.” Samantha continues: “We now reach the point of no return. The night my pregnancy was terminated. I know that for [my boyfriend] the horror of that night has left him and only remains as a distant memory. To an extent that is true of my Mother as well. However, for me, that night lives in my memory and dreams, causing distress almost regularly and it’s now six years since the event.” In the same newspaper, another student wrote: “There is something really quite strange about actively seeking to have a new life scraped and vacuumed from your uterus … I couldn’t work for the first six months [after the abortion]. I couldn’t know, from one hour to the next, whether I would be crying hysterically … immobile in depression, or tentatively daring to function as a human being. I would sometimes be depressed for three weeks at a time, dressing and preparing meals was as much [as] I could do.” Depression can be a precursor to suicide, and various studies have found that women who have had abortions are six-to-nine times more likely than other women to commit suicide. Part 3 of “Arguments against abortion” will appear in the August issue of Life News. * These arguments are taken from my pamphlet, “In Defence of the Unborn”, which is available from Life Ministries, 4/334 Wanneroo Road, Nollamara, WA 6061. Phone: (08) 9344 7396.

WITH DEVESTATING HUMILITY

Posted on 12/3/2005 at 6:44 AM - Link

With Devastating Humility J. B. Phillips By far the most significant event in the whole course of human history will be celebrated, with or without understanding, at the end of this season, Advent. What we are in fact celebrating is the awe-inspiring humility of God, and no amount of familiarity with the trappings of Christmas should ever blind us to it. God’s intervening into human history came about with an almost frightening quietness and self-effacement, and as millions will testify, he will come once again with the same silence and the same devastating humility into any heart ready to receive him. More... Not sure why, just thought I would put this here.  Jennifer.

This WAr Is For REal

Posted on 11/19/2005 at 8:16 PM - Link

Message)

Sent: 19/11/2005 8:17 AM

This war is for real By Major General Vernon Chong, USAF, ret. October 1, 2005 To get out of a difficulty, one usually must go through it. Our country is now facing the most serious threat to its existence, as we know it, that we have faced in your lifetime and mine (which includes WWII). The deadly seriousness is greatly compounded by the fact that there are very few of us who think we can possibly lose this war, and even fewer who realize what losing really means. First, let's examine a few basics: 1. When did the threat to us start? Many will say September 11, 2001. The answer, as far as the United States is concerned, is 1979 – 22 years prior to September 2001 – with the following attacks on us: Iran Embassy Hostages, 1979; Beirut, Lebanon, Embassy, 1983; Beirut, Lebanon, Marine Barracks, 1983; Lockerbie, Scotland, Pan-Am flight to New York, 1988; First New York World Trade Center attack, 1993; Oklahoma City – Murrah Federal Building, 1995; Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Khobar Towers Military complex, 1996; Nairobi, Kenya, U.S. Embassy, 1998; Dares Salaam, Tanzania, U.S. Embassy, 1998; Aden, Yemen, USS Cole, 2000; New York, World Trade Center, 2001; Pentagon, 2001; Shanksville, Pennsylvania, Plane Crash, 2001 (Note that during the period from 1981 to 2001 there were 7,581 terrorist attacks worldwide). 2. Why were we attacked? Envy of our position, our success, and our freedoms. The attacks happened during the administrations of Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and Bush We cannot fault either the Republicans or Democrats, as there were no provocations by any of the Presidents or their immediate predecessors, Presidents Ford or Carter. Who were the attackers? In each case, the attacks on the U.S. were carried out by Muslims. What is the Muslim population of the World? 25 percent. Isn't the Muslim Religion peaceful? Hopefully, but that is really not material. There is no doubt that the predominently Christian population of Germany was peaceful, but under the dictatorial leadership of Hitler (who was also Christian), that made no difference. You either went along with the administration, or you were eliminated. There were 5 to 6 million Christians killed by the Nazis for political reasons (including 7,000 Polish priests). Thus, almost the same number of Christians were killed by the Nazis, as the six million holocaust Jews who were killed by them, and we seldom heard of anything other than the Jewish atrocities. Although Hitler kept the world focused on the Jews, he had no hesitancy about killing anyone who got in his way of exterminating the Jews, or of taking over the world – German, Christian, or any others. Same with the Muslim terrorists. They focus the attention of the world on the U.S., but kill all in the way – their own people, or the Spanish, French, or anyone else. The point here, is that just like the peaceful Germans were of no protection to anyone from the Nazis, no matter how many peaceful Muslims there may be, they are no protection for us from the terrorist Muslim leaders, and what they are fanatically bent on doing – by their own pronouncements – killing all of us "infidels." I don't blame the peaceful Muslims. What would you do – if the choice was shut up, or die? So who are we at war with? There is no way we can honestly respond that it is anyone other than the Muslim terrorists. Trying to be politically correct, and avoid verbalizing this conclusion can well be fatal. There is no way to win, if you don't clearly recognize, and articulate who you are fighting. So with that background, now to the two major questions: Can we lose this war? What does losing really mean? If we are to win, we must clearly answer these two pivotal questions. We can definitely lose this war, and as anomalous as it may sound, the major reason we can lose is that so many of us simply do not fathom the answer to the second question – "What does losing mean?" It would appear that a great many of us think that losing the war means hanging our heads, bringing the troops home, and going on about our business, like post-Vietnam. This is as far from the truth as one can get. What losing really means is: We would no longer be the premier country in the world. The attacks will not subside, but rather will steadily increase. Remember, they want us dead, not just quiet. If they had just wanted us quiet, they would not have produced an increasing series of attacks against us, over the past 18 years. The plan was clearly, for terrorists to attack us, until we were neutered, and submissive to them. We would, of course, have no future support from other nations, for fear of reprisals, and for the reason that they would see that we are impotent, and cannot help them. They will pick off the other non-Muslim nations, one at a time. It will be increasingly easier for them. They already hold Spain hostage. It doesn't matter whether it was right or wrong for Spain to withdraw its troops from Iraq. Spain did it because the Muslim terrorists bombed their train, and told them to withdraw the troops. Anything else they want Spain to do, will be done. Spain is finished. The next will probably be France. Our one hope on France is that they might see the light and realize that if we don't win, they are finished too, in that they can't resist the Muslim terrorists without us. However, it may already be too late for France. France is already 20 percent Muslim, and fading fast! If we lose the war, our production, income, exports, and way of life will all vanish, as we know it. After losing, who would trade or deal with us, if they were threatened by the Muslims? If we can't stop the Muslims, how could anyone else? The Muslims fully know what is riding on this war, and therefore, are completely committed to winning, at any cost. We better know it too, and be likewise committed to winning at any cost. Why do I go on at such lengths about the results of losing? Simple. Until we recognize the costs of losing, we cannot unite, and really put 100 percent of our thoughts and efforts into winning. And, it is going to take that 100 percent effort to win. So, how can we lose the war? Again, the answer is simple. We can lose the war by "imploding." That is, defeating ourselves, by refusing to recognize the enemy and their purpose, and really digging in and lending full support to the war effort. If we are united, there is no way that we can lose. If we continue to be divided, there is no way that we can win! Let me give you a few examples of how we simply don't comprehend the life-and-death seriousness of this situation. President Bush selects Norman Mineta as Secretary of Transportation. Although all of the terrorist attacks were committed by Muslim men between 17 and 40 years of age, Secretary Mineta refuses to allow profiling. Does that sound like we are taking this thing seriously? This is war! For the duration, we are going to have to give up some of the civil rights we have become accustomed to. We had better be prepared to lose some of our civil rights temporarily, or we will most certainly lose all of them, permanently. And, don't worry that it is a slippery slope. We gave up plenty of civil rights during WWII, and immediately restored them after the victory, and in fact, added many more since then. Do I blame President Bush or President Clinton before him? No, I blame us for blithely assuming we can maintain all of our Political Correctness, and all of our civil rights during this conflict, and have a clean, lawful, honorable war. None of those words apply to war. Get them out of your head. Some have gone so far in their criticism of the war and/or the Administration that it almost seems they would literally like to see us lose. I hasten to add that this isn't because they are disloyal. It is because they just don't recognize what losing means. Nevertheless, that conduct gives the impression to the enemy that we are divided and weakening. It concerns our friends, and it does great damage to our cause. Of more recent vintage, the uproar fueled by the politicians and media regarding the treatment of some prisoners of war, perhaps exemplifies best what I am saying. We have recently had an issue, involving the treatment of a few Muslim prisoners of war, by a small group of our military police. These are the type of prisoners, who just a few months ago, were throwing their own people off buildings, cutting off their hands, cutting out their tongues, and otherwise murdering their own people, just for disagreeing with Saddam Hussein. And just a few years ago, these same types of prisoners chemically killed 400,000 of their own people for the same reason. They are also the same type of enemy fighters who recently were burning Americans, and dragging their charred corpses through the streets of Iraq. And still more recently, the same type of enemy that was, and is, providing videos to all news sources internationally, of the beheading of American prisoners they held. Compare this with some of our press and politicians, who, for several days, have thought and talked about nothing else but the "humiliating" of some Muslim prisoners – not burning them, not dragging their charred corpses through the streets, not beheading them, but "humiliating" them. Can this be for real? The politicians and pundits have even talked of impeachment of the Secretary of Defense. If this doesn't show the complete lack of comprehension and understanding of the seriousness of the enemy we are fighting, the life and death struggle we are in, and the disastrous results of losing this war, nothing can. To bring our country to a virtual political standstill over this prisoner issue makes us look like Nero playing his fiddle, as Rome burned – totally oblivious to what is going on in the real world. Neither we, nor any other country, can survive this internal strife. Again I say, this does not mean that some of our politicians or media people are disloyal. It simply means that they are absolutely oblivious to the magnitude of the situation we are in, and into which the Muslim terrorists have been pushing us, for many years. Remember, the Muslim terrorists' stated goal is to kill all infidels! That translates into all non-Muslims – not just in the United States, but throughout the world. We are the last bastion of defense. We have been criticized, for many years, as being "arrogant." That charge is valid, in at least one respect. We are arrogant in that we believe that we are so good, powerful, and smart; that we can win the hearts and minds of all those who attack us; and that with both hands tied behind our back, we can defeat anything bad in the world! We can't! If we don't recognize this, our nation as we know it, will not survive, and no other free country in the World will survive, if we are defeated. And finally, name any Muslim countries throughout the world that allow freedom of speech, freedom of thought, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, equal rights for anyone – let alone everyone, equal status, or any status for women, or that have been productive in one single way that contributes to the good of the world. This has been a long way of saying that we must be united on this war, or we will be equated in the history books to the self-inflicted fall of the Roman Empire. If, that is, the Muslim leaders will allow history books to be written, or read. If we don't win this war right now, keep a close eye on how the Muslims take over France in the next 5 years or less. They will continue to increase the Muslim population of France, and continue to encroach little by little, on the established French traditions. The French will be fighting among themselves, over what should or should not be done, which will continue to weaken them, and keep them from any united resolve. Doesn't that sound eerily familiar? Democracies don't have their freedoms taken away from them by some external military force. Instead, they give their freedoms away, politically correct piece by politically-correct piece. And, they are giving those freedoms away to those who have shown, worldwide, that they abhor freedom, and will not apply it to you, or even to themselves, once they are in power. They have universally shown that when they have taken over, they then start brutally killing each other, over who will be the few who control the masses. Will we ever stop hearing from the politically correct, about the "peaceful Muslims"? I close on a hopeful note, by repeating what I said above. If we are united, there is no way that we can lose. I hope, now after the election, the factions in our country will begin to focus on the critical situation we are in, and will unite to save our country. It is your future we are talking about! Do whatever you can to preserve it. After reading the above, we all must do this not only for ourselves, but our children, our grandchildren, our country, and the World. Whether Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal, and that includes the Politicians and media of our country, and the free World! Please forward this to any you feel may want, or need to read it. Our "leaders" in Congress ought to read it, too. There are those who find fault with our country, but it is obvious to anyone who truly thinks through this, that we must unite!

Cats & Dogs

Posted on 11/10/2005 at 11:47 PM - Link

Pet stroller, talking treat ball among top holiday pet gifts
Source: PR Newswire GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- If you're planning to put a present under the tree this holiday for your dog or cat, you're in good company. According to industry estimates, 153 million pet owners will spend $2.6 billion on pet gifts this holiday season. And if you're looking for that something special for your something special, Pet Supplies "Plus" of West Michigan offers the following ideas: A combination of high tech gadgetry and old-fashioned play, the Talk to Me Treatball will amaze you and captivate your little one. Dispensing treats as your pet plays with it, this ball also plays your recorded voice message and displays a motion-activated light show. From MACS, this item is available at Pet Supplies "Plus" of West Michigan's stores starting at $16.27. Now you can walk with your cat ... or your rabbit, or ferret ... even your aging or ailing dog ... with the Fresh Air Pet Stroller by Four Paws. The stroller is perfect for pets with joint ailments or older pets that can't walk on their own. It includes two cup holders, a food tray, and a flashlight for night visibility. It's also completely collapsible for storage or carrying. Find it at Pet Supplies "Plus" of West Michigan's stores for $119.98. Commenting on this year's possible pet "hits," Pet Supplies "Plus" of West Michigan President Mike Kothe said, "As the market grows, more and more innovation comes to pet gifts. This year is no exception; you can really find an interesting, fun gift for a great price." Other possible hits this season include: - The LitterMaid Self-Cleaning Litterbox: This unit automatically rakes waste into a sealable container immediately after your cat pays a visit. The litterbox operates with household current or "D" batteries, while a detachable litter tray makes cleaning of litter tray easier. A Mega version includes more waste receptacles and a cat privacy tent. Basic version $99.99. Mega version $149.99. - The PetMate Freshflow Cat Fountain, which provides naturally cool, flowing, oxygenated water for your cat or small dog. Pets love flowing water, and you'll love the fact that it's ultra-quiet and easy to keep clean. Small $37.28. Large $44.38. - Greenies: called the "original green smart treat," these yummies are now the best selling dog treat in America. They clean teeth, freshen breath, taste great, and are environmentally friendly. Now available for dogs and cats in various sized bags.

Thanksgiving

Posted on 11/6/2005 at 12:48 AM - Link

In 2006 we will celebrate our Christian heritage by recognising this year as the 400th Anniversary of the prophetic declaration regarding "THE GREAT SOUTHLAND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT".  This declaration was made by Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernandez de Quiros on the shores of Vanuatu on Pentecost weekend 1606. It explicitly covered all the Islands (including Australia) of the South Seas.

This coming NDOT we will rededicate our nation to the purposes of God as part of the "GREAT SOUTHLAND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT".

Takes steps now to ensure your Church does not allow this historic event to pass without acknowledgement and celebration.

We recognise that the National Day of Thanksgiving has for many Churches become a major focus for outreach to the community such are the opportunities it presents.  Therefore whilst formal community events will be held on the Saturday 3rd June, we encourage informal community activities such as morning teas and acts of kindness etc to spread across the whole week beginning 29th May. 

Whilst Australia Worships is encouraged as a combined Churches activity on the Saturday night (3rd June) flexibility is allowed for local considerations

Sunday 4th June may be used for individual congregational celebrations and to incorporate the Global Day of Prayer into regular worship services.

Source: Australian Prayer Network

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Posted on 11/5/2005 at 12:34 AM - Link

JAN | FEB | MAR | APL | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV| DEC CRI FOCUS October 2005 Child Rescue International is a division of Mission Without Borders Children are helped in Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, and Bulgaria. . Their Mothers Never Come . . "State Children" are a special group in the post-soviet society. For a variety of reasons there are thousands of children in Ukraine who are unable to live in their family homes and are sent to live in various institutions. After giving birth to these children, quite possibly, many parents never think of them any more. Being abandoned by parents and sent to these institutions by authorities they become branded with the name of a "State child." Having no family to be raised in they have no future. Any children's institution becomes a temporary shelter before they become adults. . . . Every district in Ukraine has several children's Homes in its territory. One of them is the Gryshkivtsi Home located in the Zhytomyr District 230 km east of Rivne. Almost all of 230 children studying here suffer either from slight mental retardation or delayed development. Many of them are orphans without any parents while the rest of them are "orphans" who have parents. But those parents are not worthy to be called "parents". Some of them abandoned their children as babies while others lived immoral lives and have been deprived their parental rights. . . The Gryshkivtsi Home consists of two departments – a preschool and a regular one for older children. Young boys and girls go to the preschool at the age of 3 and stay there until they are 7. After that they study in the other department with the older children. For many years Mission Without Borders has been giving its support to the children in institutions. Several years ago it started to support the Gryshkivtsi Home. . . Home Director Victor Gnatyuk: "We'd never heard about Mission Without Borders until the day when they visited us here. Mission workers wondered about our life here, our orphanage, our children and their needs. You know, many people visit us, they promise a lot, but in a short time they forget their promises. Having such sad experiences, we did not expect that much. In a short time Mission co-workers visited us again and suggested their support. That was such good news for us. "Because of the large number of children it's very difficult to provide for all their needs. Thanks to the Mission we get a lot of important supplies that children need. Assistance in the form of food, clothing, shoes, school supplies, hygiene and medical supplies is great. These items are always useful! "In speaking about material support, I must admit there is also a need for emotional and spiritual support. Each one of these children greatly suffers from many factors. The first thing is that almost all of them are orphans either without or with parents. They are sent here because their parents are unable to raise them. The other thing that makes them suffer is their physical condition. As they come from disadvantaged families of alcohol or drug addicts they carry the consequences of their parents lifestyle. The children in the Gryshkivtsi Home suffer from mental problems, mental pathology or developmental delays. "Mission coworkers bring positive emotions every time they visit. Many children receive personal gifts from their sponsors. These moments bring the children as much joy as is possible. Different events organized by the Mission, such as: Bible lessons, Birthday parties, dramas and other input are warmly welcomed by everybody." . Birthday party treats. . . . The young children who live in the Home's preschool department are divided into four groups according to their ages. Each of these little children stirs up sympathy. They are waiting for their mothers to come for them every day. However it never happens. Their "mums" never visit them and never think of them. Many of them abandoned their children when they were babies. . . . . Happy little Yevgen with Andrey and the gifts from his sponsor Yevgen Golyachenko ,6, came to the Gryshkivtsi Home when he was a toddler. He comes from a disadvantaged family. His father abandoned him when he was a baby. His mother was deprived her parental rights for living an immoral lifestyle and Yevgen was sent to the local baby Home. When he was three years old, he came to the Gryshkivtsi Preschool Home. Due to his mother's reckless behavior during her pregnancy, the boy suffers in his development. Regardless of his age he looks small and is still unable to talk. Little Yevgen understands what people are saying to him, although he never says a word. He takes special speech lessons. However, no results are obvious. Yevgen has a kind heart. The way he expresses his feeling is by petting somebody's face with his hands. Every time he sees a person he likes he rushes to them and starts petting their cheeks expressing his love and sincere attitude and acceptance. CRI Coordinator Andrey visited the boy with a special CRI gift from his sponsor. The little parcel with some gifts: a colouring book, pencils, pencil sharpener, toy bus and other items was joyfully welcomed. In no time at all, he climbed up on Andrey's lap and started petting his cheeks gently. . Denis Slonchynski, 3, came to the home several months ago. His mother put an advertisement in the newspaper with the startling words, "A child for sale…" As she was known to have a bad reputation and was found by the police. She was deprived of her parental rights and the boy was sent to the Home. He is the youngest child in the home. When Mission organized a birthday party for the children Denis grabbed all the biscuits from the table and crunched each piece of them trying to protect his food from anybody else. Here is his photo on the right. . . . The parents of Vova Avakumov, 6, were deprived of their parental rights. Vova is an obedient and nice child. He has pretty eyes with extremely long eyelashes. However, Vova is a dwarf. His height is 80 cm. The doctors say that he will never be able to grow taller. . . . Each of the young children studying in the Gryshkivtsi Home has his own heartbreaking story. No material items will supersede their greatest need for love. They are waiting for their mothers who never come. Being called "State children" means belonging to nobody, having no future and no hope. Their only hope is in God, who knows these children by their names. Therefore Mission's prayers and support: materially and emotionally maintains the institutionalized child. . Children waiting for their mothers who will never come! . We have children like these in this story waiting for a sponsor to show them love. Will you meet this challenge and share a small portion of your resources to make a child happy knowing there is a sponsor somewhere far away who really loves him, or her. Click on the link below for some available immediately. Thank you. Robert Imlach Director Mission Withour Borders . You may become a CRI Child Sponsor and bring Joy to young lives. Please CLICK HERE NOW to view the children available for you on this web site right now.

Mission Without Borders, Australia PO Box 265, Bankstown NSW 1885 (02) 9793 8100 / rimlach@mwbi.org

Cats & Dogs

Posted on 11/3/2005 at 9:47 PM - Link

Subscribe To: Business Success: Click the above link and you'll receive useful business tips for the workplace or home business (sent every weekday). Is your pet overweight? Today's Subscriber Photos We want your Cats and Dogs Photos! Click here for photo submission requirements. To see our subscriber pet photos online visit our full Pet Gallery.
Is your pet overweight?
By Dr. Krongthong Oraveerakul Source: Bangkok Post You are what you eat. Your pets are too, for that matter. Is your dog or cat overweight? If you've never asked yourself that question - and few pet owners have - then it's time to do so now. For, as in humans, obesity can lead to many serious health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, joint inflammation, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, liver disease, difficulty in breathing and even skin problems. Seriously overweight dogs and cats who undergo surgery are also more vulnerable to side effects from the anaesthetics used in the operation. Here's a simple method to check whether your pet has a weight problem: Position your thumbs on the animal's spine, then use your index fingers to feel for its ribs, one by one. If you can find them easily, then your dog or cat is of normal weight. But if you have difficulty locating the ribs due to a thick intervening layer of fat, then your pet is overweight, possibly obese, and you should consult your vet. Normally, fat accumulates more in the facial and abdominal areas of cats and in the chest, back and abdominal areas of dogs (and human beings!). While many factors can contribute to obesity in animals, the major cause is overfeeding: Providing large meals or allowing your animal to snack at will. Commercial brands of dog and cat food, both the wet and dry varieties, contain fat and minerals used to enhance flavour. This fat accumulates in the body and is hard to shed. So think twice before deciding to fatten up that new litter of pups or kittens; that lard could become a permanent fixture. Some dogs and cats seem to do their utmost to avoid physical activity, sleeping all day long and rarely venturing outside. Older animals, in particular, tend to become overweight because they get little or no exercise - perhaps because they are no longer curious about their environment. Normally, females put on more weight than males. Obesity can afflict neutered/spayed dogs and cats; sometimes, hormonal imbalances stemming from the thyroid or adrenal glands can cause the animal to gain weight easily. So, how to control your pet's weight? Well, make a start by reducing the quantity of high-calorie food it eats and simultaneously increase the high-fibre, low-fat content of its diet. Feed the animal small portions three or four times a day during this slimming-down period. While cooking for or eating at table with your family, resist the urge to give your pet titbits; the best approach is to put it outside for the duration. Walk your dog regularly and encourage it to exert itself by running or playing with other dogs. Cats, being a lot less tractable, are a more difficult proposition in this regard. Exercise options include playing chase-the-feather or other improvised games and buying toys that encourage physical activity. Weigh your pet regularly and keep a record to monitor the effectiveness of the new diet-and-exercise regime. Check the list of ingredients on shop-bought dog and cat foods and stop buying those with a high fat content. Best of all: Consult your vet for advice on nutritious types of food which will satisfy your pet but allow it to gradually shed those unnecessary, and potentially harmful, kilogrammes. ---- To see more of the Post Publishing Plc, or to subscribe, go to http://www.BangkokPost.net

Walk the dog, lose weight

Posted on 10/29/2005 at 12:28 AM - Link

		Exclusive Online Cell Phone Special! Claim a Brand New Motorola V180 color screen flip Cell Phone - for ArcaMax Subscribers  • Order now and you'll get Accessories  • Shipping on us & a 50 dollar rebate.  • Need 2 Phones? Get them with the Tmobile Family Time plans Read Full Offer Details & Plan Info Here Get your local weather from ArcaMax.com Enter city or zip code: Quick Clicks Unlimited Music: Download MP3 Music, Movies, Games, & more "Seized Real Estate" Guaranteed Bargains in Every US State New Study: Reduce Bad Cholesterol Naturally - Read More Dream Job: Paid Surveys, Focus Groups at Home "Give me ONE Day and I'll make your lawn a dazzling spectacle" "How to Have Happy, Healthy, Long-Living Cats" Play Free! Mahjong, Texas Hold'em, Trivia, & Word Games "I work at home..." Four hours a day And make at least $4,000 per week Visit here to see if you qualify to work from home and earn a potential $4000/week Note: U.S. & Canada Only
Today In Cats & Dogs: Subscribe To: Automotive: Receive the latest auto news and tips on car care when you click the above link to subscribe (sent every weekday). Walk a dog, lose weight Today's Subscriber Photos We want your Cats and Dogs Photos! Click here for photo submission requirements. To see our subscriber pet photos online visit our full Pet Gallery. Walk a dog, lose weight Source: HealthDay (HealthDay News) -- Letting yourself go to the dogs may help you lose weight. A University of Missouri-Columbia study says that having a dog can help people get more exercise and lose weight. "Our goal was to look for ways to increase the average exercise regimen, and we found being responsible for a pet, such as committing to walk a loaner dog, encouraged people who did not own dogs to walk more often and for longer periods of time. Our first study group averaged a weight loss of 14 pounds during the one-year program," researcher Rebecca Johnson, an associate professor of nursing and director of the College of Veterinary Medicine's Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction, said in a prepared statement. That 14 pounds of weight loss over a year is better than results reported by major weight-loss plans, Johnson noted. The study included disadvantaged, disabled people who were encouraged to walk dogs on a regular schedule. The participants began by walking with the dogs 10 minutes per day, three times a week, and eventually walked the dogs up to 20 minutes per day, five times a week. Johnson's next study will involve people taking pets to the gym to see if the presence of pets as support companions can increase a person's self-esteem and get them to do other exercises along with walking. ---- More information: The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has more about walking.

A New Outlook On Life

Posted on 10/27/2005 at 6:55 AM - Link

>Subject: A new outlook on life
> > > >
>Gardening Rule: When weeding, the best way to make sure you are
>removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out
>of the  ground easily, it is a valuable plant.
> > > > ~~~~~~~~
>The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to
>buy a  replacement.
> > > > ~~~~~~~~
>Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
> > > > ~~~~~~~~
>There are two kinds of pedestrians - the quick and the dead.
> > > > ~~~~~~~~
>Life is sexually transmitted.
> > > > ~~~~~~~~
>An unbreakable toy is useful for breaking other toys.
> > > > ~~~~~~~~
>If quitters never win, and winners never quit, then who is the
>fool who  said, "Quit while you're ahead?"
> > > > ~~~~~~~~
>Health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can
>die.
> > > > ~~~~~~~~
>The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.
> > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > Subject: 2 EMOTIONS
> > Men have two emotions: Hungry and Horny. If you see him without
>an  erection make him a sandwich !
> > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Get the last word in: Apologize.
> > > >
> >------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Thoughts for a Friday.....
>Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that
>person to  use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks.
> > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Some people are like Slinkies . . . not really good for
>anything, but  you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down
>the
>stairs.
> > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in
>hospitals dying  of nothing.
> > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Have you noticed since everyone has a camcorder these days no
>one talks about seeing UFOs like they use to.
> > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.
> > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no
>attention to  criticism.
> > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Why does a slight tax increase cost you two hundred dollars and
>a  substantial tax cut saves you thirty cents?
> > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>In the 60's people took acid to make the world weird. Now the
>world is  weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.
> > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have
>come to  realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.
> > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it
>takes a  whole box to start a campfire?
> > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>AND THE # 1 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: You read about all these
>Terrorists--most of them came here legally, but they hung
>around on  these expired visas, some for as long as 10-15 years. Now,
>compare that  to Blockbuster; you are two days late with a video and those
>people are  all over you. Let's put Blockbuster in charge of immigration.
> > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elderly Personals

Posted on 10/26/2005 at 5:26 PM - Link

FOXY LADY: Sexy, fashion-conscious blue-haired beauty, 80's, slim,5'4"
used to be 5'6"), searching for sharp-looking, sharp-dressing companion.
Matching white shoes and belt a plus.

LONG-TERM COMMITMENT: Recent widow who has just buried fourth husband,
and am looking for someone to round out a six-unit plot. Dizziness,
fainting, shortness of breath not a problem.

SERENITY NOW: I am into solitude, long walks, sunrises, the ocean, yoga
and meditation. If you are the silent type, let's get together, take our
hearing aids out and enjoy quiet times.

WINNING SMILE: Active grandmother
with original teeth seeking a dedicated flosser to share rare steaks,
corn on the cob and caramel candy.

BEATLES OR STONES? I still like to rock, still like to cruise in my
Camaro on Saturday nights and still like to play the guitar. If you were
a groovy chick, or are now a groovy hen, let's get together and listen
to my eight-track tapes.

MEMORIES: I can usually remember
Monday through Thursday. If you can remember Friday, Saturday and
Sunday, let's put our two heads together.

MINT CONDITION: Male, 1932, high mileage, good condition, some hair,
many new parts including hip, knee, cornea, valves. Isn't in running
condition, but walks well. 



>>I love the one with "matching white shoes and belt a plus".........Dot

Posted on 10/26/2005 at 5:26 PM - Link

FOXY LADY: Sexy, fashion-conscious blue-haired beauty, 80's, slim,5'4"
used to be 5'6"), searching for sharp-looking, sharp-dressing companion.
Matching white shoes and belt a plus.

LONG-TERM COMMITMENT: Recent widow who has just buried fourth husband,
and am looking for someone to round out a six-unit plot. Dizziness,
fainting, shortness of breath not a problem.

SERENITY NOW: I am into solitude, long walks, sunrises, the ocean, yoga
and meditation. If you are the silent type, let's get together, take our
hearing aids out and enjoy quiet times.

WINNING SMILE: Active grandmother
with original teeth seeking a dedicated flosser to share rare steaks,
corn on the cob and caramel candy.

BEATLES OR STONES? I still like to rock, still like to cruise in my
Camaro on Saturday nights and still like to play the guitar. If you were
a groovy chick, or are now a groovy hen, let's get together and listen
to my eight-track tapes.

MEMORIES: I can usually remember
Monday through Thursday. If you can remember Friday, Saturday and
Sunday, let's put our two heads together.

MINT CONDITION: Male, 1932, high mileage, good condition, some hair,
many new parts including hip, knee, cornea, valves. Isn't in running
condition, but walks well. 



>>I love the one with "matching white shoes and belt a plus".........Dot

Better food, more check-ups help cats live longer.

Posted on 10/26/2005 at 5:23 PM - Link

Better food, more check-ups help cats live longer
By Jill Bowen Source: Roanoke Times & World News Q: You have written recently about old cats. I have two 15-year- old cats that appear to be in good health. How much longer do you think they will live? Is there anything special that I ought to be doing for them? I read somewhere of a cat that lived to 29 years. What are the chances that mine will live to that age? A: Cats are living longer than ever before and, by and large, they are living healthier lives thanks in a large part to advances in feline nutrition and veterinary medicine. While heritage plays a part in longevity, better commercial cat foods, early neutering and regular veterinary checkups including vaccinations play an important part. A complete balanced diet is important, as is palatability, as cats are fastidious feeders. As cats get older they lose some of their sense of smell, and consequently, a diminution in the sense of taste, so the brand of food you feed them may have to be changed to accommodate these deficiencies. Dry food is convenient and cheaper than wet food. However, as most cats enjoy wet food, it can be used to tempt them when dry food looses its appeal. Any cat that has had an urinary tract problem needs to be fed wet food, as well as an increased amount of water, to reduce the risk of formation of bladder stones and crystals, which can be a serious problem in male cats. Diseases affecting older cats can be difficult to detect as their onset is usually slow and many times owners think that the signs of an insidious disease are just those of normal aging. If your cat shows any of the following signs, a trip to the veterinarian is suggested to check that there is not an under lying correctable problem: - Joint stiffness and loss of flexibility, which may be a sign of arthritis. - Weight loss, which may be a symptom of gum inflammation and tartar plaques on the teeth. This interferes with eating and may make it painful, causing a decrease in appetite. - Obesity and increase in appetite. Overweight cats are at risk for a number of medical problems, especially diabetes, respiratory and heart problems as well as joint problems. - Increased thirst and urination, often a sign of diabetes or kidney disease. - Poor coat hair quality and lack of grooming. Older cats that are stiff find the effort of maintaining their coat in good condition a great effort, but they appreciate a daily grooming from their owner. Lack of grooming may also denote a tooth problem such as tartar or periodontal disease. - Vomiting, diarrhea or constipation occur more often in older cats, which can be a symptom of hairballs or a more serious systemic problem. Spaying female cats before six months or their first heat reduces the chance of them developing mammary cancer as they age. This cancer is nearly always malignant and lethal in cats. If a cat is overweight, care must be taken in dieting, as cats that are on a reduced diet can develop a fatty liver if the dieting is too severe. A gradual reduction in food will be more beneficial. Producing a weight loss of approximately one pound a month is good and will mean that the cat is not permanently crying by the fridge. To prevent overeating, feed the cat twice daily rather than allowing dry food to be fed ad lib. Cats that are prone to tartar build up on their teeth need dry food, as this helps to prevent tartar build up, though it may be necessary for a professional teeth cleaning at the veterinarian's at least once a year. This cleaning can be arranged to coincide with the annual check up and visit for booster vaccinations. Not so long ago the average life span of a cat was considered to be 12 years; nowadays it is quite common to have cats living to 18 years. Cats that are totally indoor cats are said to live longer as a rule than cats that go outside, although my last three cats, which are both indoor and outdoor cats, were all in their upper teens before they were put to sleep as a final act of kindness after their long and happy lives. One having even accompanied us from England in the late seventies lived to be nearly 20. ---- Q: Do raccoons carry worms that can infect people? A friend in Texas has a pet raccoon and I wondered if it was OK for my children to play with it. A: The children must always wash their hands thoroughly after touching the raccoon. Raccoons commonly are the host of a round worm called Baylisascaris. This worm seldom causes any symptoms in raccoons, but it can cause serious disease in its larval stage in people. The worm lives in the gut of the raccoon and the eggs are passed in the raccoon feces. Should a person swallow these eggs, they will hatch and the larvae can migrate through the gut wall and be carried to the liver and lungs and throughout the body via the blood stream. The larvae molt at least once and become relatively large. Clinical disease in people is due to the physical damage caused as these larvae migrate and the inflammation they create. These larvae can affect the central nervous system. There have been at least two confirmed fatal cases in children who had been exposed to the feces of wild raccoons. Raccoons kept as pets may be a source of the infection and they should be wormed with the same anthelmintics that are used in dogs and cats. ---- Dr. Jill Bowen has practiced veterinary medicine in England and Texas and has taught at Texas A&M. She lives with her veterinarian husband and two cats in Blacksburg. If you have a question, please write to her in care of The Roanoke Times' New River Current, P.O. Box 540, Christiansburg, VA 24068, or send an e-mail to mjbowen@radford.edu. Jill Bowen regrets that she cannot answer readers' letters personally. All sick animals should, of course, be taken to a veterinarian.

Better food, more check-ups help cats live longer

Posted on 10/25/2005 at 8:07 PM - Link

Better food, more check-ups help cats live longer

By Jill Bowen Source: Roanoke Times & World News Q: You have written recently about old cats. I have two 15-year- old cats that appear to be in good health. How much longer do you think they will live? Is there anything special that I ought to be doing for them? I read somewhere of a cat that lived to 29 years. What are the chances that mine will live to that age? A: Cats are living longer than ever before and, by and large, they are living healthier lives thanks in a large part to advances in feline nutrition and veterinary medicine. While heritage plays a part in longevity, better commercial cat foods, early neutering and regular veterinary checkups including vaccinations play an important part. A complete balanced diet is important, as is palatability, as cats are fastidious feeders. As cats get older they lose some of their sense of smell, and consequently, a diminution in the sense of taste, so the brand of food you feed them may have to be changed to accommodate these deficiencies. Dry food is convenient and cheaper than wet food. However, as most cats enjoy wet food, it can be used to tempt them when dry food looses its appeal. Any cat that has had an urinary tract problem needs to be fed wet food, as well as an increased amount of water, to reduce the risk of formation of bladder stones and crystals, which can be a serious problem in male cats. Diseases affecting older cats can be difficult to detect as their onset is usually slow and many times owners think that the signs of an insidious disease are just those of normal aging. If your cat shows any of the following signs, a trip to the veterinarian is suggested to check that there is not an under lying correctable problem: - Joint stiffness and loss of flexibility, which may be a sign of arthritis. - Weight loss, which may be a symptom of gum inflammation and tartar plaques on the teeth. This interferes with eating and may make it painful, causing a decrease in appetite. - Obesity and increase in appetite. Overweight cats are at risk for a number of medical problems, especially diabetes, respiratory and heart problems as well as joint problems. - Increased thirst and urination, often a sign of diabetes or kidney disease. - Poor coat hair quality and lack of grooming. Older cats that are stiff find the effort of maintaining their coat in good condition a great effort, but they appreciate a daily grooming from their owner. Lack of grooming may also denote a tooth problem such as tartar or periodontal disease. - Vomiting, diarrhea or constipation occur more often in older cats, which can be a symptom of hairballs or a more serious systemic problem. Spaying female cats before six months or their first heat reduces the chance of them developing mammary cancer as they age. This cancer is nearly always malignant and lethal in cats. If a cat is overweight, care must be taken in dieting, as cats that are on a reduced diet can develop a fatty liver if the dieting is too severe. A gradual reduction in food will be more beneficial. Producing a weight loss of approximately one pound a month is good and will mean that the cat is not permanently crying by the fridge. To prevent overeating, feed the cat twice daily rather than allowing dry food to be fed ad lib. Cats that are prone to tartar build up on their teeth need dry food, as this helps to prevent tartar build up, though it may be necessary for a professional teeth cleaning at the veterinarian's at least once a year. This cleaning can be arranged to coincide with the annual check up and visit for booster vaccinations. Not so long ago the average life span of a cat was considered to be 12 years; nowadays it is quite common to have cats living to 18 years. Cats that are totally indoor cats are said to live longer as a rule than cats that go outside, although my last three cats, which are both indoor and outdoor cats, were all in their upper teens before they were put to sleep as a final act of kindness after their long and happy lives. One having even accompanied us from England in the late seventies lived to be nearly 20. ---- Q: Do raccoons carry worms that can infect people? A friend in Texas has a pet raccoon and I wondered if it was OK for my children to play with it. A: The children must always wash their hands thoroughly after touching the raccoon. Raccoons commonly are the host of a round worm called Baylisascaris. This worm seldom causes any symptoms in raccoons, but it can cause serious disease in its larval stage in people. The worm lives in the gut of the raccoon and the eggs are passed in the raccoon feces. Should a person swallow these eggs, they will hatch and the larvae can migrate through the gut wall and be carried to the liver and lungs and throughout the body via the blood stream. The larvae molt at least once and become relatively large. Clinical disease in people is due to the physical damage caused as these larvae migrate and the inflammation they create. These larvae can affect the central nervous system. There have been at least two confirmed fatal cases in children who had been exposed to the feces of wild raccoons. Raccoons kept as pets may be a source of the infection and they should be wormed with the same anthelmintics that are used in dogs and cats. ---- Dr. Jill Bowen has practiced veterinary medicine in England and Texas and has taught at Texas A&M. She lives with her veterinarian husband and two cats in Blacksburg. If you have a question, please write to her in care of The Roanoke Times' New River Current, P.O. Box 540, Christiansburg, VA 24068, or send an e-mail to mjbowen@radford.edu. Jill Bowen regrets that she cannot answer readers' letters personally. All sick animals should, of course, be taken to a veterinarian.

BRIDGING THE GAP

Posted on 10/21/2005 at 1:34 AM - Link

BRIDGING THE GAP - MAINLAND /TASMANIAN RECONCILIATION REPORT

Source: Joint report from Tasmanian and Mainland Intercessors [ Top ]

CHURCH'S SINS ARE A TURN OFF

Posted on 10/21/2005 at 1:30 AM - Link

CHURCH'S SINS ARE A TURN OFF

Source: Sydney Morning Herald [ Top ]

Give For Your Own Sake

Posted on 10/19/2005 at 11:50 PM - Link

Give For Your Own Sake
By Max Lucado

You don't give for God's sake. You give for your sake. "The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first in your lives" (Deut. 14:23 TLB).

How does tithing teach you? Consider the simple act of writing a check for the offering. First you enter the date. Already you are reminded that you are a time-bound creature and every possession you have will rust or burn. Best to give it while you can.

Then you enter the name of the one to whom you are giving the money. If the bank would cash it, you'd write God. But they won't, so you write the name of the church or group that has earned your trust.

Next comes the amount. Ahhh, the moment of truth. You're more than a person with a checkbook. You're David, placing a stone in the sling. You're Peter, one foot on the boat, one foot on the lake. You're a little boy in a big crowd. A picnic lunch is all the Teacher needs, but it's all you have.

What will you do?
Sling the stone?
Take the step?
Give the meal?

Careful now, don't move too quickly. You aren't just entering an amount ... you are making a confession. A confession that God owns it all anyway.

And then the line in the lower left-hand corner on which you write what the check is for. Hard to know what to put. It's for light bills and literature. A little bit of outreach. A little bit of salary.

Better yet, it's partial payment for what the church has done to help you raise your family ... keep your own priorities sorted out . . . tune you in to his ever-nearness.

Or, perhaps, best yet, it's for you. For though the gift is to God, the benefit is for you. It's a moment for you to clip yet another strand from the rope of earth so that when he returns you won't be tied up.


>From When God Whispers Your Name
Copyright 1994, Max Lucado
http://www.crosswalkmail.com/zamwamw_kvbmslrx.html