Prayer for Deliverance

My trip out had its "highs" and "lows". But at least I got a fair bit done, and some which I hadn't foreseen.

My chip fryer has been busted for weeks. (I have no idea how anyone expects me to live without chips/french fries!) So, I was finally able to replace it today. And the reader may recall I had asked social services if they would provide me with a recliner chair to sleep in, as without going into specifics, sleeping in bed can be both hazardous and just plain foolish at times. But they no longer provide recliners. I had intended to contact some charities to see if they were willing to provide one. Then in the local shopping area, I saw one at a fraction of the price they normally are, so went and inquired about it. And also to see (seeing as its not electric or motorized) if my pathetic body was strong enough to handle it. And it was, so I left a deposit to secure it, and when the bank is open in the week, will pay the balance when I can get some cash out to do so. It should make my nights a lot more safer, and maybe waking up feeling "like death" fewer. (DV) and at times also help pain issues. So, tho I hadn't planned on spending a couple of hundred quid, I see this as a wise investment and a good thing to use savings on.

Whilst out my pain started to hit, and I did one of the stupidest things I can think of. I ignored it!! Within a short time, I could barely push myself around and was audibly groaning as I did, and the degree of it literally knocked me nauseous. So, I stopped and took my pills and waited for them to kick in. It was my own fault for doing what I know I shouldn't do and ignore it. As mentioned a few posts ago, the old maxim of its easier to stay out of pain than get out of pain is sure true.

On coming back, I unpacked, and then headed for my bed with a bunch of books. And also read some Scripture. I am currently as part of my private devotionals reading Ecclesiastes. I find its the wisdom book I go back to most often, tho perhaps people would expect that to be Job, yet Ecclesiastes to me has some magic about it where the imparting of wisdom is concerned. Some of my entire favorite verses in the Old Testament would have to include:

1. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5. A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6. A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7. A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

I read Chapter four, and somehow this spoke to my heart as it seemed to confirm all my worst fears about coping with the level of adversity and affliction I do, in Christian isolation. After reading it, I prayed to God to send me deliverance in the way of my isolation, as theres little else I can do. I saw a Christian friend earlier in the week, it was the first time I had been in Christian company for around four weeks. That level of isolation, especially in this level of affliction gives Satan inroads that most may not be able to imagine. Perhaps especially when ones only companions at times are of the world. It just makes for all kinds of conflicts and tumult, and of the often spoke of angst I sometimes post here. So, after reading the below, and also the commentaries (also below) I prayed to God for deliverance from this life of almost complete isolation, as it seemed to me its not His will for any one of His people to be so separated, and it makes me a sitting duck at times as far as being under spiritual attack goes.

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken

Daniel, carried away in early years from his native land, followed in Babylon the good practice to which he had been accustomed in Judea, of religious society with his companions in bondage. He, and his three pious friends, by such means increased in wisdom, and became as remarkable for their spiritual health, as they were for their outward appearance, although fed on pulse, while they refused the delicacies of the king's table. Our Saviour had much private fellowship with his peculiar disciples; and they after his death met together for prayer, for praise, and for religious conference. Happy, my brethren, is the man, who finds Christian friends and associates: Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend; but wo to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. [Prov 27:17; Eccles 4:10] [Alexander MacLeod --True Godliness]

Reason. The ground hereof is because, as the joy of the Lord doth strengthen, so doth sorrow weaken the soul. How doth it weaken?

1. By weakening the execution of the functions thereof, because it drinketh up the spirits, which are the instruments of the soul.

2. Because it contracteth, and draweth the soul into itself from communion of that comfort it might have with God or man. And then the soul being left alone, if it falleth, hath none to raise it up, Eccles 4:10. [Richard Sibbes]

Eccles 4:10. They; one of them, the plural being put for the singular, as Jon 1:5; Matt 21:7; 1 Tim 2:15. Or both of them successively. Fall, in any kind, into any mistakes and errors, or sins, or dangers and distresses. Will lift up his fellow; hold him up if he be falling, or raise him up if he be fallen.

Eccles 4:11. They have heat; they will be sooner warm in a cold bed and cold season. How can one be warm alone? not so soon nor so thoroughly.

Eccles 4:12. Against him; against either of them. A threefold cord is not quickly broken; if a man have not only one, but two or more friends, he is so much the safer and the happier.[Matthew Poole]

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Procrastination...

I have been procrastinating, (something I'm actually good at!) as I need to go out, to the shops, seeing as I didn't manage it yesterday, I can't put it off today, but feel about as much up to it, as climbing Mount Everest. Whilst procrastinating, I listened to a sermon by David Silversides, on the life of John Calvin. Calvin was supposed to have a fiery hot, short temper, which would explode at a moments notice. He also suffered horrendously physically. His short fuse was more controlled as his life in faith went on, and the grace of God abounded in him.

I think its a great pity that Calvin and his wife had no children who survived. Be interesting to see if they were great theologians of this day and age, being of his seed.

I may not know anything about my biological family, apart from the Irish connection, but, to the best of my knowledge, my line of being a believer starts and stops with me. As no one else in my family is one, and I have no offspring and its a bit late in the day to even think about it now, even if Mr Right was just around the corner!

Calvin wasn't afraid of controversy, and yet he was a shy, timid individual, despite his often fiery rage. The description of him in that way, could have been of me.

After I'd procrastinated an hour away listening to this sermon, I decided to procrastinate some more time, and read Calvin's introduction or pre-face to his commentary on the Psalms. (see? I real good at this procrastination, lark, and for someone who is not much good at anything, its nice to be able to do something well!)

But its now almost one thirty pm. So its now or never, so I better shift myself and get going. Calvin with all the health problems he had, was an invalid by all normal standards, yet he kept going both in his writing, visiting, preaching and general ministry. And for a while he preached four sermons a week. When I think of some of the pastors I've heard of or known today, who do so little, and think they are giving their all, it really puts it into perspective what giving ones all actually means. So, if Calvin could do so much, while battling so many ails, I'm sure I can drag myself to the supermarket and back, no matter how hard a thing it may seem to do from this side of it. |

Bitter Herbs

Sometimes this world just seems so hard to remain in, when such a beggar and so poor in it. I hear any what should be good news, it often leaves me weeping without seemingly any end. Not because I don't think the news be good, or that I'm not glad for whoever has had the good news, but, it can be a stark reminder how life left me behind, and someone elses good news, can often mean a loss for me in my life and circumstances. Sometimes, when everyone else is celebrating or joyful, I think I must be the only person who weeps over the same thing that caused jubilation for others. So, yes, this world can seem very hard to remain in, as just being in it, at times, leaves bitter herbs to eat. But I knew *this* was coming, so, its better than when something whacks you out of the blue I guess.

What the court decided on the case of Angela Channing in my previous post on that subject, on circumstances alone "for one baby to die of SIDS was a tragedy, two was suspicious, three was murder" feels similar to how I feel about families. To lose one is hard luck, to lose two, (and I am doing with my dad as he is, my last remaining close relative) is carless, to lose 3, is, downright foolhardy.

Everyone understands suffering to their own degree of it. But those folks who have said I can't pretend to understand what you go through, are honest at least and don't belittle what they can't understand. As if I was experiencing normal or ordinary degrees of suffering, it would be common and you could find the same kind of suffering on any street corner. But, how many of us think we can understand what Job experienced? No, we can't. And he like me, because it is not common to mankind, are experiencing extraodinary suffering as Calvin termed it. If any ole Tom, Dick or Harry was able to understand, it would be quite ordinary, and not out of the norm. To say any different is illogical at best. Of course there are others who suffer as greatly or perhaps more, but, they are not people within my circle of Christian friends. Though as stated in the first place, everyone understands suffering to the degree they experience it. And some of there degrees are great too in their own way, and I have no intent of belittling there suffering. But that doesn't stop me still maintaining the above. As normal every day affliction does not stop because one has a heavy cross to bear all the days of our lives. And this is why it can be easy to feel judged, as there but for the grace of God could go anyone. And I've seen how some others at least do not handle lesser suffering well at all. Tho its no one who as far as I know reads this blog.

I had planned to go out this PM. But knew I didn't have it in me without having a cat-nap first. So, I went to lay down and dozed off, when I wokied up three hours had disappeared! And for other physical reasons on waking don't feel like going out now at all, so shall leave it till tomorrow. (DV)

I'm turning the puter off, at this point not sure when I shall turn it back on, at least to post here. The web was the only Christian contact, God gave me, yet sometimes it feels impossibly hard not to pull the plug, as whether in actual life or virtual, just existing can tear at my flesh. Yet anyone who is living and not brain dead, needs some kind of outlet, which is why I never quite manage to pull the plug. Posts at the puritannical blog will continue even if I take a break from here, which I'm not sure as of yet, but, sometimes, lifes just too hard to speak unemotionally. Life is like that, when you're left behind on an island. More especially when you're dying on it. If I do blog later it will be totally unrelated, as most of the time my emotions are far more believable than anything else may be just from the evidence and testimony of my life. |

The Other Fellows Job-Poem

There's a craze among us mortals that is cruel hard to name;
Wheresoe'er you find a human you will find the case the same;
You may seek among the worst of men or seek among the best,
and you'll find that every person is precisely like the rest;
Each believes his real calling is along some other line
Than the one at which he's working - take for instance, yours and mine.
From the meanest "me-too" creature to the leader of the mob,
There's a universal carving for "the other fellow's job."

There are millions of positions in the busy work today,
Each a drudge to him who holds it, but to him who doesn't, play;
Every farmer's broken-hearted that in youth he missed his call,
While that same unhappy framer is the envy of us all.
Any task you care to mention seems a vastly better lot
Than the one especial something which you happen to have got.
There's but one sure way to smother envy's heartache and her sob:
Keep too busy at your own to want "the other fellow's job."



Strickland W. Gilliland |

A Regular Production Line

It can be very difficult to keep on top of things to actually get things done when illness is so persistent and so chronic. But this week, tho it may seem small fish by most folks standards, even a bit boring, has been better than average, as even so have been battling the elements physically speaking, even tho things could have been worse. Here's a brief summary of my to-do list. Or maybe that should be a got done list:

Sorted out my finances. (paperwork is something I find horrendously difficult)

cleaned my home. I have no cleaner at the moment and have decided to tackle the job myself. Taking a hoover over from my w/chair is a new but somewhat "interesting" experience.

had guests.

Went to doctors.

Went to see my dad.

Sorted out my computers hard drive

shopping

Laundry.

Theres probably more but I can't remember. But this is DJ being a regular production line!! Everyone can quit yawning now!! |

Hodge podge

I am considering, only considering mind, as I'm not sure I endorse cinema going, but are considering going to see the Da Vinci code. I not sure what its about except its based on the fictional idea of if Christ had children. I never read the book, though heard a lot about it, as I moved in more literary circles at the time it was published. But if I did know more of it, I no longer have the information consciously. A big fact may well be the duration of the film, as I find it really hard to sit through something lengthy at one sitting.

As for what I wrote of in my previous post, "The Law is an Ass" THIS
is probably one of the better known stories of this type. Where a mother lost three sons, (they died suddenly and unexplicably) and for no more than that fact alone, the court decided that "one cot death, (sudden infant death syndrome) was tragic, two was supicous and three was murder." which just on that theory alone proves nothing. The woman served years for the murders of her three sons, and she won her case on appeal. But, this case very well highlights the whole root of the problem which I was speaking of in "The Law is an Ass". |

The Difference

A good or bad church can make!

You've heard of lapdogs? well, get ready for the lap horse!

I seem to have messed up my template. (sheesh!) Will try and fix it later, and put all the links back, but hafta for now get ready to go see my dad.

For anyone who followed my past my run-in with the jobsworth pharmacist, my doctor on Tues told me to continue with the asprin for now. So, as I said, people who think their job gives them extra curriculum knowledge can be very goat getting!! |

Unusual Phobia

I heard of a phobia that was controlling someones life this morning that I have never heard of before. The fear/phobia was of someone throwing up. It apparently is an underlying part of obsessive compulsive disorder, but it seemed rather weird in some respects. As its not likely very often you will come into contact with someone throwing up. But this woman, on her wedding night, because her husband had drank three pints of beer, and she thought he may throw up, she spent her wedding night sleeping in another room. If her kids are ill, she moves out. Where the youngest child had thrown up on the carpet she had to have the carpet removed before she would move back home. Her husband will turn down work in other peoples homes, if anyone in the place who is employing him is ill, because if his wife got to hear about it, she wouldn't be able to cope knowing he had been in contact with people who may have been throwing up. Now as I said, it seemed a bit odd to me, but this woman is on medication to the extent that much of the time she is so sedated she is almost a zombie.

I think we all have some fears/phobias. My most obvious one is bees and wasps. But most of our phobias do not control our lives in the way this woman's fear of anyone throwing up does. She has tried aversion therapy, hypnosis, etc, but still the phobia persists. I'm not into buying mental health stuff at first blush, and don't know enough to pass an opinion in that respect on this particular scenario. But, if a huge spider crawled into a croweded room, and half the people left, scared witless cause their phobia was arachnophobia, people would probably laugh, but not think it very unusual. But if someone threw up, and someone left the room having the screaming ab dabs and an anxiety attack, most people would be somewhat perplexed I think.

So for me the jury is out as far as having an opinion on something like this. But, the mind is a powerful thing I do believe that, and what goes on in the mind can have very real physical affects. But, I had never come across this phobia at all before. |

The Law is an Ass!

I think one of the worst miscarriages of justice, (and this happens several times a year) is when a parent is accused of hurting or murdering their child because the child may die, and no one can explain how. So that only leaves (in the minds of the authorities) the parents to blame. They must have done something must they not? Sometimes its a simple thing, suchas more than one child of the parent dying of sudden infant death syndrome. One is tragic. Two or more breeds suspicion. A few weeks ago here in England a couple were released while a retrial was arranged, of a couple who were jailed for murdering their son. They were thought to have forced salt down him so that it consequently went onto kill him. However, since their imprisonment, more has come to light suchas the boy had a genetic illness which resulted in his sodium levels raising so high it would kill him. Other cases that come to mind, is where parents have been charged and convicted of shaking their baby so hard its brain bled and it subsequently died. It wasn't found out till after the parents had been tried and convicted the infant had a platelet disorder so the slightest knock, such as the normal rough and tumble any young child has could cause the bleeding without anyone doing anything harmful to it. But the parents were jailed, they not only lost their child, they then had to cope with being the suspects and convicted of being the cause of his death.

I heard of a case a few days ago, where a couple had three children taken away from them by social services, and the children were subsquently adopted. The couple are expecting another child at the moment and they are petrified the same may happen with their unborn child. The children, it is believed since the adoption took place, had brittle bones which would explain their injuries. And these stories are all too common. They happen EVERY week to someone in this country. Yet on the other end of the spectrum, you get parents who are not fit enough to have a pet hamster, and they and their children are never investigated as to how the children are being cared for.

But these cases are making headlines every single week in one form or another. Families are being torn apart and destroyed. To lose a child is a terrible, terrible tragedy that will never quite leave even though life moves on. To then be accused (and at times incarcerated) and labelled by the criminal justice system as being the deliberate cause of their deaths is unthinkable for the degree of suffering and additional hardship to an already heart breaking situation.

The system is failing people, badly. A top lawyer said that going through the legal system is a gamble for how fair it will work out. The guilty are often freed while the innocent are often condemned. And yes, no criminal justice system will never have miscarriages of justice but the amount of per centages our swing towards is horrendously scary. As we may all be sat somewhere today, minding our own business, thinking we will never have any cause of need to be taken through or to seek help from the legal system, but NONE of us knows how our lives could change even before the end of the day, and for the next year or two, the criminal justice system will take over our lives. I don't know what the answers are to this dilemma, but the system is failing people badly. And there but for the grace of God, any of those let down by it, could be you or I. |

A Ministers sad lament

This quote seems relevant to the my previous waffling in THIS post which referred to different forms of presbyterianism and how some of it is distincly liberal.

"I am made to think it strange, that Presbyterian ministers, whom God had once honoured with suffering, should have vented themselves--and that publically--so very far contrary to the principles of the Church of Scotland, the Covenants, and the faithful and honest Acts of the General Asembly." Richard Cameron

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When the shinyness wears off

Ever noticed sometimes in chronic medical conditions, the doctor will give one a pill that at first blush helps enormously, and then after a few weeks/months the affects and relief you had from it become less and less? I am finding this with these anti-spasmodic pills my doctor gave me. At first it was a huge blessing the difference was so remarkable, but my pain levels the last few weeks have reverted back to at times not being very much different to before I started them. I have a doc appt today, and so will talk to him about this, and also a few other matters. Sometimes, well in fact often, I have had to cancel doctors appts because I've been to ill to get there! (sheesh!) and my pain levels at the moment seem to say that all too loudly, yet the alternative of not going and this level of pain being allowed to continue, is a much worse evil than going whilst in this degree of pain. It kept me awake along with itching the majority of last nite.

Oh yes!! I've lost a £20 note!! Yikes! Stupid thing is of course, its in the home, and yet have no idea where I may look to find it. Its around $35 US dollars, and it may not be a huge amount, but it sure feels it! It will no doubt turn up, as I'm always losing things I have in my hand one moment and no idea where it is the next, but, tis quite annoying!

But since I have to be at the doctors in around two hours, guess I best stir myself and get coffee and get showered and make myself presentable to go. Some mornings, when pain levels seem way beyond manageable, the simplest tasks can seem arduous and hard, and its why with my dad's hospital appts I always insist on them being late afternoon, as I know that is the most likely time of day I will most usually be able to make it to go with him. And a large part of the reason I tell doctors, "I don't do mornings". Thankfully, most doctors will understand the morning syndrome with a physically disabled person, and try to accomodate one. But for now, coffee, is my greatest need. |

"jobsworth" pharmacist

I forgot I said I would blag about my run-in with a jobsworth, pharmacist!

When I was out last week at the supermarket, I decided to go to the pharmacy in there to get some soluble asprin. Illnesses such as mine have huge blood flow problems associated with them, and this is a major cause of much of my illness depending on how severe it is at any given time. Anyhow, I trundled up to the counter, and waited and no one appeared they were in the back chattering. Behind a counter in a wheelchair my diminutive size to start with kind of makes me hard to see. But I cleared my throat, and the assistant came out. I asked about something else and she asked about medication which was what started the ball rolling, as she fetched the pharmacist out. I then went ahead and asked for the soluble asprin, and you'd have thought I was asking for heroin! Cos I take ibuprofen for break through pain, she said there was a serious interaction between those and the asprin. I told her I'd been taking it for a couple of years, was seeing my doctor on Tues to try and get something different to asprin which did the same thing, but the affects of me not taking it for even a day or two, could be quite serious. But she wouldn't budge, saying it was "more than her jobsworth". I told her if I'd never told her about my other medication she wouldn't have even known. Anyhow, at that point, I went to the cafeteria for a coffee as what should have been a simple job of buying a jar of asprin had turned into frustration. But after coming out of the coffee shop and feeling niggled, I trundled back up the counter and I said, "I would like you to be aware, that even in medicine one size does not fit all. And because of you being a jobsworth, you could actually be putting people at risk by your one size fits all philosphy, especially with people suchas me, whose body does not act at all usual or normally It may be dangerous for some people to take both drugs, but my blood is sticky and full of toxins and much thicker than average folks blood, so one size does not fit all." She said she had looked me up on the computer which is linked to the doctors, but honestly! How could a pharmacist even try to interpret porphyria when even doctors don't understand it. A long time niggle of mine is either doctors receptionsist of others who are not qualified by their job thinking they have some kind of special medical knowledge. Of course they have some knoweldge but many of them just swing a heavy hand because of the little (often) knowledge they have. When I finally did my shopping at the same supermarket the chemist was located in, I found some asprin on the shelf where they keep some over the counter medicines. I resisted the urge to trundle back up the pharmacy counter and wave them under her nose, saying na, na, na, na, na, to show I got them anyway, without her help! The whole crux of the matter for her, was because my doctor had not prescribed the asprin for me. That fact alone confused the whole issue for her. They are about forty nine uk pence for a jar. How many people get a prescription for over the counter medicines such as asprin? How many do not just buy them as its both more convienent and very little cost. If I was paying for my prescriptions, a jar of asprin because the doctor had written them out would cost me about six uk pounds, so, really, If I was paying for my prescriptions, (which I don't) it would be rather ridiculous to pay six pounds rather than forty nine pence, but the whole doctor not prescribing them was the major issue for her. Gimme a break! Disabled people can make informed choices too. And I do know the risks of taking the asprin. But the benefits far outweigh the risks, in a way no pharmacist who has not experienced similar first hand, could ever have a clue about. I'm not of course slating pharmacists as a whole. I have known some very helpful educated ones who will often go further than many medical people in some circumstances. But this one was a major goat getter!! |

Christians, please quit praying!!

Don't ya have any common sense? (Sheesh!)

A study done a week or two ago, apparently "found" that the power of prayer does not affect anyones life in any way, either positively or negatively. Now, I'm not saying we can alter God's eternal will by prayer, but on the other hand, how can one read the Bible and deny the power of prayer? What are Christians supposed to do? Because some study in the US of A has had no positive results from the recovery of a group of patients by prayer.

A couple of excerpts from the study:

Having people pray for heart bypass patients had no effect on their recoveries in an American study, researchers say.

Three Christian groups were asked to pray for particular patients, starting the night before their surgeries and continuing for two weeks.

The results showed no effect of prayer on the patients' recovery, the researchers said in the journal article, Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP) in cardiac bypass patients.

A couple of ponderizations for this study. What type of Christians were the prayer givers? Did they pray thru Jesus or not? (not all those who pray do yet Scripture says we must)

The only rule of faith for what God does or doesn't do are the Scriptures. So, I don't think some study, which at best is ill-defined in what actually went on in it, at worst a direct attempt to devalue both God and prayer, does not prove anything one way or another.

On a report at citizenlink which is talking of this study, the article says: "But the study's authors say the media haven't exactly been reporting the totality of their findings. The research did find that certain prayers in certain situations do not yield a measurable effect, but the study's author said science cannot measure the power of God in people's lives." Full article

Matthew Henry said on the power of prayer: "It is true, nothing we can say can have any influence upon him, or move him to show us mercy, but it may have an influence upon ourselves, and help to put us into a frame fit to receive mercy."

And Johnathon Edwards on peitionary prayer: "God is sometimes represented as if he were moved and persuaded by the prayers of his people; yet it is not to be thought that God is properly moved or made willing by our prayers"; instead, God bestows mercy "as though he were prevailed upon by prayer."

So, I'll leave the wise reader to decide for themselves if a Christian should pray or not, if its has any value or not. But, I admit to being an overall woefully poor pray-er, but, it would take more than some medical study, to make me think it has no worth, and is a giant waste of time and effort. And it goes against God's direct commandments. I never feel as safe, when iller, when I have known folks have been praying. And its not some psychological crutch, its simply because without medical intervention in my illness with often the turn for the worse it takes, if not for prayer alone, it may well be a very different state of affairs for ole Deejay by now.

A few Scripture verses:

"Ask and it will be given to you."

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. … The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer.

You do not have, because you do not ask God. |

Prince Charles

In an interview, Prince Charles said, "as long as the good Lord grants me an extention of myself here on earth I will continue to do what I can."

He then went on a few sentences later to call on all religions to live together peaceably, and to say how similar the muslim faith is to Christianity. Ahem. |

Love for seniors?

My dad told me at the nursing home he is at, there's a 94 year old guy who goes there for respite care who has a girlfriend! Well, I didn't know what to make of that, but as this story "proves" you're never too old!!

And a little late in the day no doubt, but google has a site dedicated to moms

And you see? Proof that anything not physical can become an "illness"! If you have this debiltating illness, then please let us know! (sheesh!)

Defined as "peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth", each year this surprisingly common phobia causes countless people needless distress.

To add insult to an already distressing condition, most fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth phobia therapies take months or years and sometimes even require the patient to be exposed repeatedly to their fear. We believe that not only is this totally unnecessary, it will often make the condition worse. And it is particularly cruel as fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth phobia can be eliminated with the right methods and just 24 hours of commitment by the phobic individual.

Known by a number of names - Arachibutyrophobia and Fear of Peanut Butter Sticking to the Roof of the Mouth being the most common - the problem often significantly impacts the quality of life. It can cause panic attacks and keep people apart from loved ones and business associates. Symptoms typically include shortness of breath, rapid breathing, irregular heartbeat, sweating, nausea, and overall feelings of dread, although everyone experiences fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth phobia in their own way and may have different symptoms. Treatment programme |

Professor John Frame

A little leaven

I admit to being quite ignorant of this guy before he took the path he did. I heard his name mentioned as it all evolved and used to occassionally visit a new website he had set up to set forth his what seemed now revised views, and rather opposed to orthodox presbyterianism, and he seemed to be one of the forerunners of a presbyterian theologian veering towards Rome, and shortly afterward the NAT controversy sprung up. However, because of my lack of knowledge in this area, (believe it or not, the NAT is not alive and kicking in the UK which probably shows how far away from Presbyterianism we are simply by that fact alone) I am not willing to link his name with the New Auburn theology controversy, as a fact, as I simply don't know.

However, what I do know, after doing some reading on Presbyterianism, both historic and current teachers who are trying to modify or alter it in some ways, is that I am not the greatest logician in the world, anyone who knows me would affirm that, but, some of the the views he is putting forward as an opponent of historic presbyerianism and as one of the leading opponents against the RPW as defined in the WCF, is that when you look at Scripture and also study further with the use of the orthodox creeds and standards, is that his views simply do not stand up, and to me at least, seem somewhat illogical. Even down to the way of applying Scripture to life or not. Which may be the pot calling the kettle black, but its still true. Professor Frame, as a leading theolgion today who is trying to modify the way we interpret both Scripture and the churches creeds, is doing much of what was done in the presbyterian church years ago. Some speaker of some renown would get up, in the orthodox presbyterian church, and say, he had a new name for something, it meant the same thing, but was just slightly different, but it was still Biblical and that's the way liberalism crept into the presbyterian church of America and made the different off-shoots of it so divided. Which is why you have the ones who still hold to historic presbyteriansim who would have a fit at the thought of ordaining a homosexual gay mininster, while other, more liberal branches of it positively endorse it in the name of God and love. Yet nowhere in Scripture does God condone any such thing and actually calls the lifestyle an abomination to Him. But a little leaven creeps in, and it infects the whole loaf. Which tho my knowledge is from many thousands of miles away, and not as easily understandable as researching such things as in ones own country, but Professor frame and his co-horts are also adding a little leaven to the loaf, and with his name and repute, many people will be influenced. But, when reading or seeing what some of these teachers are saying, I would suggest also reading how Arminianism was introduced by Erasmus and his cohorts, it was in a very similar fashion. A little leaven sometimes, turns into a dirty great lump of dough that is totally unpalatable, and unable to be moulded like clay, as the whole counsel of God enables, but adding to it, or negating part of it, can only nullify. For further reading (with caution) of Professor Frame's views I would suggest perhaps "Christian life" |

Justice is a sea of trouble caused by crafty foxes

I understand that you are still under the Lord's visitation in your former business with your enemies, which is God's dealing. For, till He take His children out of the furance that knoweth how long they should be tried, there is no deliverance; but after God's highest and fullest tide, that the sea of trouble is gone over the souls of His children, then comes the gracious long-hoped-for ebbing and drying up of the waters. Dear sister, do not faint; the wicked may hold the bitter cup to your head, but God mixeth it, and there is no poison in it. they strike, but God moves the rod; shimei curseth, but it is because the Lord bids him. I tell you, and I h ave it from Him before whom I stand for God's people, that there is a decreet given out, in the great court of the highest heavens, that your present troubles shall be dispersed as the morning cloud, and god shall bring forth your righteousness, as the light of the noontide of the day. Let me intreat you, in Christ's name, to keep a good conscience: yourself is a more dangerous enemy than I, or any without you. Innocence and an upright cause is a good advocate before God, and shall plead for you, and win your cause. And count much of your Master's approbation and His smiling. He is now as the king that is gone to a far country. God seems to be from home (if I may say so) yet, He sees the ill servants who say, "Our Master deferreth His cometh," and so strike their fellow servants. But, patience, my beloved; Christ the King is coming home; the evening is at hand and He will ask an account of His servants. Make a fair clean count to Him. So carry yourself as at night you may say, Master, I have wronged none; behold you have your own with advantadge. O! your soul then will esteem much of God's kisses and embracements in the testimony of a good conscience. The wicked, howbeit, they be casting many evil thoughts, bitter words and sinful deeds behind their back, yet they are in so doing clerks to their own process and doing nothing all their life but gathering dittayes against themselves; for God is angry at the wicked every day of their lives. And I hope your present process shall be sighted one day by crafty foxes, double, ingrained hypocrites shall appear as they are before His majesty, when He shall take the masks off their faces. And O! thrice happy shall your soul be then, when God finds you covered with nothing but the white robes of the saints innocence, and the righteousness of Jesus Christ. [Samuel Rutherford]

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Domains and stuff

This is probably not an ideal day to post this, but in the next day or so, my domains should get transferred to Yankee Doodle webspace, since I changed my hosting company to a less expensive American one. I don't know exactly which domains I shall keep, this one for sure, and a puritan at heart and tearing down the altars, as I also plan to add to that space over time. They could briefly disappear for a while while the transfer takes place I'm not sure how it works to be honest, so, if they do one day in the coming week, for folks who come by reguarly that will be why.

I've still ceased throwing up, but at the moment on waking my pain levels make me feel like climbing the walls. Its cold here and also threatening rain which never helps. My joints and spine feel as if they're being wrenched out of alignment, but hey ho, I of course are waiting for my meds to work. I think the most useful advice anyone gave me as far as managing pain levels goes, is its easier to stay out of pain than get out of pain. As at one time I would leave as long as possible between my pain meds, in an effort to not be reliant on them, but that would leave me in pain so that no amount of potent pain meds would do a fat lot cos it was so out of control. Obviously night time and sleeping one can't do alot about it. A decade ago if anyone had have told me I would ever be able to sleep through the kind of pain I now do on a daily basis I would have thought them loopy, as tootheache used to keep me awake! And I find it odd than anyone may think anyone gets used to living with chronic pain, as its the most un-natural thing so don't think its likely but in some ways such as sleeping whilst in pain your body does adjust.

Tomorrow, if I remember I shall post about a run in I had with a pharmacist who was a right little Jobsworth person. "Its more than my jobsworth" and I didn't get mad but oh it was so frustrating. But sometimes its easier to "walk" away than argue the toss.

As I sit here waiting for my meds to work, are wondering if I should blast my neighbours out of bed with my Psalm music! I think one or two Lord's Day mornings in the past I have woken them up by it! Not on purpose, but it was warm sunny days, and my window was open and so was theres just a few feet away. Its one way to cure a hangover I guess, even if not quite hair of the dog. That saying, apparently comes because years ago, people believed if you were bitten by a dog, it would help the wound heal and stop infection by rubbing a hair of the said dog in the wound. Folks had some strange notions in those days regarding medicine. Oh, wait, they still do!

After I've sold my home so have some capital to spare, I plan on getting myself a custom made to measure, ultra lightweight wheelchair. As it will not only be more comfortable, but will be easier to travel in cars, if it will fold up as I have in mind. I am considering importing from perhaps America thinking it is likely to be less expensive, but then are wondering how I would go on for obtaining spare parts of getting it repaired, as here I'm looking at around Two and a half thousand pounds for what I have in mind. If anyone reads my blog, (I know someitmes it gets hits thru the disability content) who has imported one from abroad then please tell me of your experience as far as getting parts or repairs done after the sale. |