Session Notes

CNN.com

There had been no confirmed deaths in the United States related to swine flu as of Tuesday afternoon. But another virus had killed thousands of people since January and is expected to keep killing hundreds of people every week for the rest of the year. That one? The regular flu…

Since January, more than 13,000 people have died of complications from seasonal flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s weekly report on the causes of death in the nation.

No fewer than 800 flu-related deaths were reported in any week between January 1 and April 18, the most recent week for which figures were available.

The report looks at deaths in the 122 largest cities in the United States.

Worldwide, the annual death toll from the flu is estimated to be between 250,000 and 500,000.

Ok, I admit it, the stupidity factor here is starting to get to me. Seriously, EVERY flu is of either pig or bird origin — that’s where they come from. Somehow, some media outlet tagged the correct source onto this one and the whole world has freaked out — even though the death toll from this bug is actually LOWER then usual.

Today they found the kid that first got the bug — and the entire village too. Yep, still alive and ticking — and now immune to the bug they managed to start. Fears that this virus causes a critical immune overreaction have proven to be just that — fears. Basically, like all other flu bugs, this one is sadistic enough to only make you WISH you were dead, but, it’s probably not going to be kind enough to kill you.

The media hype over this is even more absurd in that Tamiflu and Relenza can kill this bug with two miserable pills and the majority of people just feel normally flu-ish — not even knowing they have this particular bug. The bug is so mild that the medical community doesn’t even want to use Tamiflu and Relenza — they would like to save it for a real problem…

But hey, never mind that — we’re in the middle of a national emergency, Obama needs 1.5 BILLION dollars in funding to fight back (or something) and we’re all gonna die… (Or maybe he just wants another cool billion to spend somewhere…)

Steve McVey:

“I’ve taught several times about how sailing is a metaphor for the grace walk. On land, we seem to have control of our own forward motion, which I’ve suggested depicts a legaslitic lifestyle of self-sufficiency. Once we abandon ourselves to the wind (the Spirit) and the water (The Word/Jesus), we have no illusions that we are in control anymore. Safe sailing necessitates that you go forward as the wind leads you. To fail to cooperate with the wind can bring dire consequences – not because the wind is punishing you, but because you are experiencing the natural result of independence and pride. Happy sailing involves watching the wind and water and cooperating with what they are doing. That’s what we plan to do today. Will we go? Will we stay? We don’t know yet, but we are willing to do either one, once the wind lets us know. So it is to be in life if we want a successful and enjoyable journey.”

This is a great article regarding resting in that EVERYTHING, HAPPENS FOR A REASON. Any situation can result in experiencing/showing God’s love understanding and grace because Jesus took any the sins of the world. May the Lord give us/our families/teachers/friends that rest.

Babies born to women who suffered morning sickness may be smarter:

“‘They can be dehydrated, they cannot work. Poor quality of life. So in a way this study further supports them and empowers them to treat themselves.’ Koren and colleagues wanted to look at whether there were any signs that using diclectin during pregnancy was harmful. The drug has been on the market in Canada for decades, but was pulled from production in the U.S. about 25 years ago over concerns it might be harmful to fetuses. It is being reintroduced in that market. The concerns, which came to light after the thalidomide scandal, led to the drug being extensively studied, said Dr. Tina Chambers, a teratologist at the University of California, San Diego’s School of Medicine. Teratology is the study of abnormal fetal development, congenital malformations and what causes them.”

This is a very reassuring article that the med has been safe for a least 10 yrs. Nausea is actually a sign of a healthy pregnancy. God seems to say so as well. Isn’t it great that technology can even reassure you if it is even possible to become pregnant. Now women can really wait for His best timing for marriage/family!

Steve McVey:

“Today, the thought hit me: ‘I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. I am intentional in waiting for the Captain to give me instructions.’ When Roger asks me to do something, I do it immediately. I don’t ask a question. I don’t delay. I just do it. That’s a crew member’s role. When I have no particular duty to do, my role is to simply enjoy the journey. I don’t have to feel guilty that I’m not doing more. I don’t have to try to find something to do. I’m just supposed to ‘abide in the Captain’ and do what he says. If I have no specific orders, I just enjoy the ride.”

Reading this article you can literally feel God’s unconditional love and peace of just being/doing when He says to do it. In Him we live, move, and have our being. I think we can avoid a lot of disappointment May it be so for us our family. friends, the girl’s school and clients.

timescolonist.com

And just as we were beginning to acknowledge this and trying to overcome the stigma attached to the disease our attention has been diverted by court cases in which people infected with HIV, mostly men, have been convicted for conduct that risks, or is simply perceived to risk, transferring the disease.

Johnson Aziga of Hamilton is the first person in Canada — possibly in the world — to be convicted of first-degree murder for having unprotected sexual intercourse with two women without telling them that he was HIV positive. He’s received a “life” sentence.

This has to be one of the most striking and disturbing articles of the day. Here’s the logic:

Forget the fact that this man knew what he was doing would kill. Forget the reality that he got the ability to bring that kiss of death through his own actions. Forget the fact that he lied to get that ability to bring this kiss of death to another. Let’s blame the victim of this deadly gift for the crime of trusting him and curse the injustice of the legal system for arresting him for this deliberate homicidal act.

Why? Well, here’s the logic: We live in a world of AIDS where everyone should live in fear of this pervasive plague or at least some other STD.

Really? Lets talk about a pervasive plague that impacts around 2/3rds of one percent (0.7%) of the population, is mostly transmitted by male on male sex (40—49% of new cases) and, in the United States, a known population (African Americans) make up about 48% of the total HIV-positive population and more than half of new HIV cases — despite making up only 12% of the population.

Is it any wonder that, so called, condom fatigue has set in? Is it any wonder that the general public still seems to think of STD’s in terms of chlamydia or the like? Is it any wonder that a few (Yes, even at the chlamydia level) very foolish individuals have begun playing a condom free game of Russian Roulette and could also be at risk to this order of calculated homicide?

Naw — let’s decry the failure to, “Overcome the stigma attached to the disease.” In English, that means, “Convince the population that this is everyone’s problem instead of still mostly being the byproduct of limited (Mostly homosexual) extremely high risk behaviors centered in a known population.” It means, “Ignore that there are some who actually pursue infection with the HIV virus.” It means, “Let’s all act like it makes sense to pretend obvious and rampant irresponsibility on the part of one known population group should be destigmatized while demanding hyper-responsibility in another.”

Once again, forget standing up, telling the truth about where the problem is centered and demanding that the core of the problem deal with it. Let’s deflect it by talking about other STD’s and make the whole world responsible.

Is it any wonder this completely preventable disease called HIV/AIDS is not going away?

Steve McVey:

“The message of Easter is that Jesus Christ has drawn us into Himself and settled the issue of our worth once and for all. You were in Christ on the cross and everything about you that would have debilitated you in terms of reaching the potential God intends for you was done away with there. You were buried with Him and on the third day, you arose with Him – full of resurrection life. Now the essence of who you are is Him. When you look in the mirror, what do you see? The key to reaching our God-given potential is to see that Jesus Christ gives us our identity. ‘In Him we live and move and exist,’ says the Scripture. We have nothing to prove. The only thing we need to do is to just be ourselves and as we do we will mature outwardly into the person we already are inwardly.”

This is a great article that reminds us that we can do all things THROUGH Christ! In Him we live and move and exist. We have nothing to prove. May it be so.

I’ve used these for years — they work.

Alternate link