Some Food for Thought for the New Year!

Do you want this world to be a better place?  

Are we, the people?  Are we the majority?  Yes, "we" are... 

So then, if "we" are the people and "we" are the majority, then "we" can and will make a difference if we would all turn to the One True God and have our Daily Bread*.  Then through Him we will...

• pray for our family and friends
• properly care for, love and protect our babies, children and our elderly
• properly care for, love and protect the pets and animals that God gave us for our enjoyment
• smile at one another and be polite to one another 
• put others first and be considerate of others and treat others the way you want to be treated (isn't this the Golden Rule?)
• have pure, right and thoughtful motives towards ourselves and others (...take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ ~2 Corinthians 10)
• forgive one another
• be honest with one another
• be compassionate 
• be motived by Love (God is love)
• live as children of the Light, being made new in the attitude of our minds (see below)
• have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (this is the fruit of the Spirit -against such things there is no law. ~Galatians 5:22-23)
• examine ourselves before the Lord and confess our sins to each other
• not allow the sun to go down on your anger (see below)
• be responsibe for feeding and caring for our own families, our health and our financial course and status (Jesus is the bread of life - see below)
• make every effort in faith to help one another when another is in need (I think we've found out that anyone can be in that situation at any given moment).
• have unity and the same love (Ephesians 5)
• lose our lives for Jesus' sake and we'll find abundant life in Christ!

Then this world would truly be a better place

and there would be so much excitement 

on earth as it is in Heaven!

Give us this day our Daily Bread!

 

*Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. ~Proverbs 30:8

 

*Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. ~John 6:35

 

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” ~John 7:38

 

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. ~James 5:16

 

 

Ephesians 4

Unity in the Body Of Christ

4As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

⁷ But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. ⁸ This is why it^[a] says:

“When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men.”^[b]

⁹ (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions^[c]? ¹⁰ He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) ¹¹ It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹² to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Living as Children of Light

¹⁷ So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. ¹⁹ Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

²⁰ You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. ²¹ Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ²⁶ “In your anger do not sin”^[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold. ²⁸ He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Happy New Year everyone!  Let's make it the best one yet for all!

Lisa

(the list above is not exhaustive or in any particular order)

Raw Dairy: A letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Dear Mr. Hennes,

My husband came across an article on Channel 6 Action News today regarding two people from PA (where I live) who became ill from the consumption of raw milk. After reading the article and hearing so many lies about raw milk and dairy, I would like to state some thought and facts.

My family has been consuming raw milk and dairy for the past seven years now.  I am lactose intolerant.  There is a tremendous difference when I drink pasteurized milk versus raw milk.  I do not get bloated and doubled-over in pain from drinking raw milk though I did from pasteurized milk.  I would say there's something to be said for that.  But the FDA states in the article link above that raw milk does not help the lactose intolerant person.  I'm living proof that it does.  Where do your facts come from?

I’m very familiar with the campaign against raw milk and raw dairy, but could there some truth to the claims that there is BIG money in the pasteurization and homogenization of dairy? What is really driving the campaign against raw dairy? Isn’t this the same type of “campaigning” that took place between tropical oils (specifically coconut/palm oils) and soybean oil?

The soybean industry created a smear campaign, using scare tactics to convince consumers that coconut and palm oils would clog their arteries and cause heart disease. Wouldn’t it be more accurate to say that it’s actually homogenization that causes clogged arteries and heart disease? After all, homogenization requires milk to be put through a sieve which breaks down the fat globules into such miniscule “uniform” fat particles making them small enough to enter our bloodstream. This is why the fat doesn’t come together and rise to the top of the milk (consumers seem to prefer that uniform look or that which has the appearance of being pure and healthy like white flour and white sugar).

Milk that has not been homogenized has naturally occurring fat globules that are not uniform in size and are too big to enter the bloodstream causing them to be eliminated as waste. And speaking of accuracy, wouldn’t it be more accurate to say that coconut oil is one of THE most healthy foods on this planet? At 76 degrees F coconut oil is a clear liquid. If our body temperature is 98.6 degrees F I can’t see how it could possibly clog our arteries, can you? I can personally vouch for how nutritious coconut oil is. A drastic change in my diet which included extra virgin organic coconut oil healed my thyroid after taking Synthroid for eleven years. Synthroid hasn’t been part of my diet in over six years now!  And my cholesterol levels are very good.

Is it true that in 2003 the FDA reported that compared to raw milk, deli meats contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes caused many more illnesses than raw milk? If so, why hasn’t the public been warned that deli meats are "inherently dangerous and should not be consumed," just like the FDA advises about raw milk?

Following is an excerpt from an article on the FDA website entitled, "Listeria monocytogenes Risk Assessment: Interpretive Summary."   "While outbreak investigations provide valuable information about potential modes of L. monocytogenes transmission, they do not always identify the contaminated food source."  So why does all the focus go towards raw milk and dairy?  Please review Summary Table 4 in the above Risk Assessment article link where "Deli Meats" top the list for highest risk for Listeria contamination!

While it’s not impossible for an illness to occur from raw milk, I can’t help but wonder why raw milk and dairy consumption are polarized and take the headlines like they do. These cases are so few and far between, unlike, say, medical mistakes.

The Abstract below (highlighted in yellow and green) was taken from page 13 of 136 of the Institute of Medicine’s article called “Roundtable on Value & Science-Driven Health Care” dated September 22, 2011. It is reported that ten years prior there was an alarming rate of medical errors. If this is true, why doesn’t this make the headlines? I haven’t noticed many warnings, if any, from the FDA/government even though we are all potential victims to man-made medical errors which, by the way, are rampant. Highlighted in green below is a claim that even though our government/country has attempted to address these problems in healthcare, progress is slow due to greed and egos (that’s my interpretation). I understand human nature is what it is, but who is taking the initiative to hold these people accountable? And why aren’t these dangers being headlined and broadcasted in the news media? Is it because that’s all covered under the so-called “patient rights” when we are required to sign our lives away prior to treatment of any kind by a doctor/hospital so that they are NOT able to be held liable? Could it be that it’s the doctors and hospitals who are being protected and consumers are being duped and left out in the cold? What a sad state of our union.  Just for the record, I don’t rely on doctors and hospitals for my health and wellness. I take responsibility for that. Shouldn’t we all and shouldn’t we be teaching  children to do the same?  I think so.  But instead what are we teaching children here in the United States of America?  Evolution as though it were fact, homosexual lifestyle as though it were normal and premarital sex is condoned as though it were no different than going to the nurse for an aspirin?  We teach tolerance to everyone and everything except to the One who created us, who sustains us, and who gave His life for us.

ABSTRACT
Ten years ago, the Institute of Medicine reported alarming data on the scope and impact of medical errors in the US and called for national efforts to address this problem. While efforts to improve patient safety have proliferated during the past decade, progress toward improvement has been frustratingly slow. Some of this lack of progress may be attributable to the persistence of a medical ethos, institutionalized in the hierarchical structure of academic medicine and healthcare organizations, that discourages teamwork and transparency and undermines the establishment of clear systems of accountability for safe care.

“Pasteurized for your safety” is the little catch phrase spelled out on lids and containers of all kinds of beverage and food products that make consumers feel, oh I don’t know, special? Important? Cared for? Loved? That is your motive for including that phrase, isn’t it? Because when some feels special, important, cared for and loved, they, in return will TRUST whoever their affections are directed at. This is a tactic used everywhere for personal and business gain. It uses and abuses people.  It’s wrong and just plain dirty. The reason for pasteurization is for pure profit. Pasteurization allows beverages and food to stay on shelves longer and that’s the bottom line. It might be convenient to consumers because people are now so accustomed to their busy lifestyle, but that doesn't negate the fact that the FDA and the government is certainly not thinking of our safety first!  Allow us to drink and eat pure and healthy foods which clearly nourish our bodies.

I know that raw dairy is legal in PA, for which I am grateful, but it’s not legal in many states and it’s not legal to cross over a state line with which, in all honesty, is absurd. Alcohol, which is legal all over and sold in many states in the supermarkets, convenience stores, gas stations etc. is much more lethal and kills many more people directly and indirectly than raw milk ever has and ever will, yet I don’t see that going away any time soon or at all. Why is that? Is it because there’s too much money being made from it? Listen, I’m not asking for something that is dangerous here. Those who work for the FDA and those in our government should open their eyes and stop making money and greed your bottom line. Once you stop that then you’ll be free to see the truth and understand it.

I would like to ask that the FDA/government allow organic farmers to farm without interference from the government or from the Monsanto monopoly schemes. Put a stop to Monsanto's frivolous lawsuits against innocent farmers who believe that organic and true sustainable farming methods are not only better for our environment but also for consumers. Put an end to Monsanto's insatiable appetite for destroying farmers' land and livelihood (and stop them from clogging up our judicial system).

Why is it that we, the people, are being deprived of our inherent right to eat what God has provided to nourish our bodies which He created, yet those with appetites to destroy what is right and true and good have their fill? If the FDA would stop approving processed “junk”foods and drugs that attribute to poor health and even death then people would have to take responsibility for their own lives. This county needs to wake up to the call that’s been sounding out for many, many years.

Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. I hope you seek the truth and work to make a difference for the people, not for lobbyists, food and drug manufacturers, the government or for yourself unless it’s first for the people!

I’ve had my say. Now I would like to hear your response.  Again, thank you.

Differing views on raw milk:
On The Safety of Raw Milk (with a word about pasteurization) - FDA
Rebuttal to the FDA's power point presentation - Weston Price Foundation

Sincerely yours,


Lisa Small
Wellness Blog

Revised:  3/9/2012

Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus

I came across this video on a website called John the Baptist TV.  The video is said to be controversial. It’s spoken by a young guy in poem form. As of this morning, it’s had over 16 million views and counting.


The video is called Why I hate religion but love Jesus. Just click on the title to watch it. Whatever faith you are of I hope you’ll watch it.


Comments are welcome.

Jennifer Sands, Christian author, speaker and 9/11 widow

A friend had invited me to a women's luncheon today at her church in Burlington, NJ.  It was a very nice day.  The guest speaker was Jennifer Sands. 

Before 9/11 Jennifer believed in God, that He existed, but that was about it.  She had no interest in knowing Jesus or reading Scripture until...9/11 happened.  On this day Jennifer Sands became a widow.  Ten years later she stands before the Lord and us a transformed woman, someone who now knows and understands the true meaning of the word peace and owns it.   

Jennifer’s life could have taken a turn for the worse but by recognizing God’s grace and accepting His sovereignty over her life she has been able to overcome that terrible tragedy and allow God to turn it into something beautiful.  This is what He does. 

I hope these words bring encouragement to you and causes you to think of things you either haven't given any thought to or things you might sweep under the rug.  :)

Click here for the video of Jennifer Sands story.