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160110 NO Condemnation

Romans 8:1-4 (1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spir...

Monday, January 19, 2015

150119 Still Alive and Watching X-Files

I haven't been writing much lately. I even quit posting on the Atkins site. No time, or no thoughts, or a combination of both.

On my Amazon Prime account, I noticed that I could watch the X-Files for free, so started doing that. I'm glad I don't believe that stuff. My sister was really into it, and is a first class conspiracy theorist. Sometimes, it is hard to talk to her when she latches onto a theory. I have only one: Satan. It's all his fault. ;) God, however, is stronger. Without God, I'd be in hot water.

Right now, I am out of hot water. Cold water is missing, too. Something under the house broke, and I'm waiting on a plumber. Thankfully, I have two five-gallon jugs with which to get water from the neighbors. It's not a problem; it's an adventure.

If this drags on, it could become a problem.

Friday, January 16, 2015

150116 Would You Take This Drug?

For the Consumer

Applies to metformin: oral solution, oral tablet, oral tablet extended release
In addition to its needed effects, some unwanted effects may be caused by metformin. In the event that any of these side effects do occur, they may require medical attention.
You should check with your doctor immediately if any of these side effects occur when taking metformin:
More common
  • Abdominal or stomach discomfort
  • cough or hoarseness
  • decreased appetite
  • diarrhea
  • fast or shallow breathing
  • fever or chills
  • general feeling of discomfort
  • lower back or side pain
  • muscle pain or cramping
  • painful or difficult urination
  • sleepiness
Less common
  • Anxiety
  • blurred vision
  • chest discomfort
  • cold sweats
  • coma
  • confusion
  • cool, pale skin
  • depression
  • difficult or labored breathing
  • dizziness
  • fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
  • feeling of warmth
  • headache
  • increased hunger
  • increased sweating
  • nausea
  • nervousness
  • nightmares
  • redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
  • seizures
  • shakiness
  • shortness of breath
  • slurred speech
  • tightness in the chest
  • unusual tiredness or weakness
  • wheezing
Rare
  • Behavior change similar to being drunk
  • difficulty with concentrating
  • drowsiness
  • lack or loss of strength
  • restless sleep
  • unusual sleepiness
Some of the side effects that can occur with metformin may not need medical attention. As your body adjusts to the medicine during treatment these side effects may go away. Your health care professional may also be able to tell you about ways to reduce or prevent some of these side effects. If any of the following side effects continue, are bothersome or if you have any questions about them, check with your health care professional:
More common
  • Acid or sour stomach
  • belching
  • bloated
  • excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
  • full feeling
  • heartburn
  • indigestion
  • loss of appetite
  • metallic taste in the mouth
  • passing of gas
  • stomachache
  • stomach upset or pain
  • vomiting
  • weight loss
Less common
  • Abnormal stools
  • bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
  • change in taste
  • difficulty with moving
  • discoloration of the fingernails or toenails
  • flu-like symptoms
  • joint pain
  • rash
  • runny nose
  • sneezing
  • stuffy nose
  • swollen joints
This is why I am taking these instead:

Coupled with changes in my diet, my blood glucose levels have been consistently below 110.

Essential Oils: Smell Of Cooking Beef No Longer Triggers PTSD

Supposedly, I am using this blog to further my business, not to whine. Essential oils do something, but in the USA it is illegal to say what. Here's a personal testimony from the wife of a military man:



Essential Oils: Smell Of Cooking Beef No Longer Triggers PTSD



I don't doubt that it works. I have had some things change in my own life. For instance, I am walking with neither can nor walker, and I can hear people talk. :D


150116 Of Hebrews 4:12

Three decades ago, I was on a year long Bible outreach program. For two weeks, we posted an ad on the ‘church’ page, which ran in the local newspaper on Saturdays. On the second Saturday, we received a phone call from a man who declined to visit our Christian fellowships. He called every night with Bible questions. Why would he not visit? For the sake of clarity, I’ll call him “J”.

After a couple of weeks of daily calls, J revealed why he could not visit. He told us an amazing story, and it shows why Hebrews 4:12 lives for me and should imprint itself on every believer’s mind. Never devalue the power of God’s Word! J was in federal prison.

J was born and raised in East LA. He was quite intelligent, and quickly discovered that the way to get money was to sell drugs, but not to use them. He enjoyed violence. By the time he was a young adult, he was taken down in a sting and went to federal prison for twenty-five years. He didn’t like that, so escaped. They caught him and tacked five years onto his sentence. They moved him to another location where he escaped again and got another five years. He was moved to yet another prison, where he escaped again, so the judge tacked another five years onto his sentence. He got fifteen years just for attempting to escape. He pushed the envelope as often as he could, so one by one he lost every privilege he had. He was confined to solitary. Finally, he demanded a Bible, simply because they could not deny him that. Alone and bored, he started reading.

He told us that several times he grew frustrated and threw the book against the wall and called God a liar. He screamed and yelled, but boredom drew him into reading some more. One day, something stuck in his brain: God really existed. People really followed Him. Miracles really happened. He believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and believed that God had raised him from the dead. All the need for violence left him, and he was released from solitary. He had access to the newspaper, so searched for a church to answer his questions. He found our ad. It was the only one that listed ‘research’ and ‘teaching’. He knew that we would have answers and called. We were planning to run a Bible class. With special permission, he took it over the phone. For three hours a night for twelve nights, he sat on the phone, listening.

Would this work again? I don’t know. Ask God. Our ad appeared only twice, and to this day, I have not heard of another that has received this kind of response. As far as I know, this man is still in prison. Because of his history, he had been moved to other federal prisons frequently and without warning. Last I heard, he had changed locations twice, and is not scheduled for release until 2017. He quit writing me several years ago.

All hell can’t stop this man from being with the Lord in paradise. We will meet again.

150116 I Don't Write Here Enough

Since I started the Atkins, I have been posting to their site. Today, I discussed food. Hmm. Everyday, I discuss food. I sense a pattern with that site...

Sunday, January 4, 2015

150104 Tomorrow, Today

Today, I put on my Planet fitness shirt. It says, "Plant Fitness." I got it when I joined. It's almost too small, now. I joined the gym because it was convenient to home, and they promised me no pressure. I went regularly, until the knee happened.

Yes, a noun 'happened'. Step into the Wayback machine and go to Colorado in 1980. I went skiing with my boyfriend, an expert, and decided that I could tackle the trip all the way up the Maryjane lift and ski down the Winter Park side. For those who don't know, the Maryjane side of the mountain catered to veteran skiers while the Winterpark side catered to beginners. At least that was true in 1980. The trail I chose was listed for beginners, and I was handling it reasonably well. Until...

Behind me, someone yelled, "Look out below!"

Skiing etiquette says that the person who is downhill has the right of way. I became an example of why. I tried to turn my head to see whatever it was. I don't know how fast I was going, but it was fast enough. As my head turned, my skis twisted oh so slightly out of alignment. I never did regain my memory of what happened after my startle reflex demanded that I look.

Time jumped, and I was sitting in the snow with my skis detached. Someone handed me what was left of my glasses. I kept them for years. They had edge marks on them. I never did find one of my poles. People surrounded me. I tried to stand, and couldn't. Someone put her hand on my shoulder and said, "You're not going anywhere. I called Ski Patrol." I felt no pain, but my legs didn't work. Then, my body started the great shattering quakes of stage two hypothermia.
 
Ski Patrol arrived with a person-sized basket and warm blankets, but the blankets didn't help. There may have been another basket for another person, but this detail is fuzzy. During the incredibly long trip down the mountain, the guy pulling the basket kept encouraging me to talk. All I remember saying was how cold I was. After what seemed like hours, (ten minutes?) we made it to the lodge. Pain started as warmth came. Other victims were treated as well. I spent the rest of the day waiting in the first aid station while my boyfriend finished his fun and came looking for me. Ah, the wonders of that age before cell phones.

Young adults are invincible, so did I see a doctor? Hah! I had wraps and crutches! Who needed a doctor!?

After dealing with the pain for decades, I finally went to see someone about the "arthritis". X-rays proved that no arthritis affects my bones. Further study showed that I had sustained ligament damage that never properly healed. Standard weight loss exercises led to excruciating pain and weakness. In the 1990s, my knees gave out and I collapsed during step aerobics. Pain and weakness encouraged me to quit Planet Fitness two years ago, and all I used was the treadmill.

Now that I know, I can concentrate on those exercises that don't use the knees. Planet Fitness is running a special right now. Abdominals, anyone?   :)

Thursday, January 1, 2015

150101 Happy New Year!

It is simply the change in the calender, but many people apply significance to it. I, however, prefer to start my new year in the fall. Today, I weighed in at 234, which is up from my previous weigh-in two weeks ago. I shall use this conveniently placed calendar change to add more exercise and better food choices to my routine.

Job 3:25
"For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me."
Fear is believing. If you don't believe in it, how can you fear it? Actively disbelieve those bad things, at least as they apply to you, and be proactive in expecting good things. With God, all things are possible. His promises are in His Word.
 — celebrating New Year's Day.

Last night, I did something different. I went to what could be best described as a 'prayer meeting'. I have gone to a handful of those in my life, and they were all a little different. Last night, many people had some weakness they wanted addressed. I prayed for everyone.

I went home expecting to find Agent Em waiting eagerly with The Hobbit in hand, but no one was home. Moon got off work and took her to some debauchery involving her friends and another band. What a wonderful end to a nice, Christian evening. :O Therefore, I rang in the new year with Diet Coke, X-Files, and intermittent snoring.

Many proclaim great hopes for the new year, but didn't they do that last year? I believe that I will continue my journey with God and apply more of His promises to my life. I also expect this year to have its own Day of Infamy. Let's drink to me being wrong.