Sp
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
50 First Dates
I had a date this morning. In fact, I've had a date every morning for the last 50. And I have to say... I am falling madly in love. Now, ya'll need to understand something. I am NOT a morning person. I don't do mornings. Ask my brother -- I punched him for waking me up once. I know what you're thinking. It's ok, go ahead and pity my date. He knew exactly what he was getting into though. He knows what I look like in the mornings before my shower. He knows I'm a grouch. And he even knows I punched my brother.
In January, I made a decision to spend time with God every day. I've said it before, I know, but it's never stuck. I would always wake up when I felt like finally getting up and I would say, "I'll do it later." Oh right, like you've never had a case of the doitlaters. You know what I learned? When you have doitlateritis NOTHING ever gets done! I knew that if I really wanted to make God a priority and if I really wanted to spend time with God then it would require a huge change in my life. I would have to get up earlier in the mornings and that change, my friends, requires going to bed earlier. That's another thing ya'll need to understand. I love staying up late.
Satan has fought me on this one and he's fought hard! The first night, I could NOT fall asleep. I tossed and turned all night long, but that's ok, because God won that battle. At 5 AM, I gave up and got up! One night I set my alarm and didn't turn it on. Three minutes before it was supposed to go off, I woke up and felt impressed to roll over and look at the clock rather than roll over and go to sleep.
50 dates with Jesus. 50 life-changing mornings. I titled this post "50 First Dates" after the movie. In the movie, this girl, Lucy, had a car accident and has short-term memory loss. She relives the same day every single day. Henry meets Lucy and thinks she's amazing. The next day, she forgets him and he has to make her fall in love with him again. Fast-forward to the end and you'll see Lucy waking up in a strange bed, with a video on the table that she's supposed to watch. She watches the details of the accident and what's happened in her life since then and she's caught up on where she is in life. She walks out on the deck of the boat and finds her husband, her daughter, and her father.
I have had 50 first dates with God. Every day God makes me fall in love with Him all over again. When I forget how far my life has come, God reminds me of everything He's done in my life.
It wasn't easy for Lucy to deal with learning about the accident for the first time everyday. It wasn't easy to wake up every morning in a strange bed with strangers who know you and love you, but you don't know at all. She could have walked away and gone back to her old life, but every morning when she was reminded of Henry's love for her, she chose to stay. She WANTED to stay.
I want to stay. I choose God. For the past 50 days and for the next 50 years and more, I choose God. I choose to fight out the tough times and let God fight Satan for me. I choose to get out of bed every morning, not because it's easy or because I've become a morning person, but because I am in love with God and He tries everyday to win my heart and make me fall in love with Him again.
50 days have changed my life. I can't begin to tell you the peace that I feel because I KNOW that God is going to take care of me. There are no words that can express to you how my faith has grown. School should be stressing me out, but it's not. God's gonna take care of me. I have a deep contentment and inner peace, that truly surpasses all understanding. I can tell you right now, the peace I feel is NOT of myself. It is not medication-induced. It is not from friends or counseling or the support of family. God makes all the difference in my life.
I want to challenge you to have 50 First Dates with Jesus and let Him change your life.
In January, I made a decision to spend time with God every day. I've said it before, I know, but it's never stuck. I would always wake up when I felt like finally getting up and I would say, "I'll do it later." Oh right, like you've never had a case of the doitlaters. You know what I learned? When you have doitlateritis NOTHING ever gets done! I knew that if I really wanted to make God a priority and if I really wanted to spend time with God then it would require a huge change in my life. I would have to get up earlier in the mornings and that change, my friends, requires going to bed earlier. That's another thing ya'll need to understand. I love staying up late.
Satan has fought me on this one and he's fought hard! The first night, I could NOT fall asleep. I tossed and turned all night long, but that's ok, because God won that battle. At 5 AM, I gave up and got up! One night I set my alarm and didn't turn it on. Three minutes before it was supposed to go off, I woke up and felt impressed to roll over and look at the clock rather than roll over and go to sleep.
50 dates with Jesus. 50 life-changing mornings. I titled this post "50 First Dates" after the movie. In the movie, this girl, Lucy, had a car accident and has short-term memory loss. She relives the same day every single day. Henry meets Lucy and thinks she's amazing. The next day, she forgets him and he has to make her fall in love with him again. Fast-forward to the end and you'll see Lucy waking up in a strange bed, with a video on the table that she's supposed to watch. She watches the details of the accident and what's happened in her life since then and she's caught up on where she is in life. She walks out on the deck of the boat and finds her husband, her daughter, and her father.
I have had 50 first dates with God. Every day God makes me fall in love with Him all over again. When I forget how far my life has come, God reminds me of everything He's done in my life.
It wasn't easy for Lucy to deal with learning about the accident for the first time everyday. It wasn't easy to wake up every morning in a strange bed with strangers who know you and love you, but you don't know at all. She could have walked away and gone back to her old life, but every morning when she was reminded of Henry's love for her, she chose to stay. She WANTED to stay.
I want to stay. I choose God. For the past 50 days and for the next 50 years and more, I choose God. I choose to fight out the tough times and let God fight Satan for me. I choose to get out of bed every morning, not because it's easy or because I've become a morning person, but because I am in love with God and He tries everyday to win my heart and make me fall in love with Him again.
50 days have changed my life. I can't begin to tell you the peace that I feel because I KNOW that God is going to take care of me. There are no words that can express to you how my faith has grown. School should be stressing me out, but it's not. God's gonna take care of me. I have a deep contentment and inner peace, that truly surpasses all understanding. I can tell you right now, the peace I feel is NOT of myself. It is not medication-induced. It is not from friends or counseling or the support of family. God makes all the difference in my life.
I want to challenge you to have 50 First Dates with Jesus and let Him change your life.
Friday, February 27, 2009
The Price of Purity
This morning, I read a story on Fox News about a 22 year old who is selling her virginity online. According to the story, the young woman's offer has netted a 3.7 million dollar offer and has had over 10,000 bids.
In a reference to Proverbs 31:10, the author claims that the price of $3.7 million is far above that of rubies. The Bible says, "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies" (KJV).
This woman is not virtuous. She may be a virgin, but she is not virtuous. Virtuous women do not sell their bodies for money. A virtuous woman would be appalled at the idea.
So I started thinking -- if the virginity of one non-virtuous woman is worth that much to over 10,000 men who don't even know her, how much more is the purity of a woman worth to a man who loves her?
The Moonlite Bunny Ranch, the brothel that is arranging and hosting the deal, sounded especially gung-ho about Dylan.
"Natalie is a virgin and would like to sell this priceless and rare commodity in a very exclusive and private setting," says the Bunny Ranch Web site.
While the commodity's rarity may be debatable, more than 10,000 bidders have come forth to put a price tag on Dylan's purity. And if the Bunny Ranch's owner is to be believed, someone has offered $3.7 million, a price far above rubies.
In a reference to Proverbs 31:10, the author claims that the price of $3.7 million is far above that of rubies. The Bible says, "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies" (KJV).
This woman is not virtuous. She may be a virgin, but she is not virtuous. Virtuous women do not sell their bodies for money. A virtuous woman would be appalled at the idea.
So I started thinking -- if the virginity of one non-virtuous woman is worth that much to over 10,000 men who don't even know her, how much more is the purity of a woman worth to a man who loves her?
Friday, February 20, 2009
The Power of Xylitol
Smack, smack, POP! As I write this essay I am enjoying my Trident® Watermelon Twist™ gum and its benefits to my oral health. Trident® gum is one of many products on the market containing xylitol. In clinical studies, xylitol has been proven to safely and naturally reduce decay by increasing saliva production, “starving” Streptococcus mutans, and maintaining the pH balance of the oral cavity. Xylitol is also believed to have a yeast-inhibitory effect, thereby reducing the risk of oral candidiasis.
Xylitol is a white substance with a crystalline structure that looks and tastes like sugar. It is a natural substance produced in amounts up to 15 grams by our own bodies during normal metabolism and is found in foods such as berries, lettuce, and mushrooms (Xylitol, 2009). Cup for cup xylitol’s sweetness equals that of sugar. The FDA approved xylitol for use in special dietary foods in 1963 and is safe when consumed in amounts of less than 15 grams per day, with the recommended amount being 7-14 grams per day (Burt, 2006; Xylitol, 2009). Xylitol is safe for use in diabetic patients because the sugar alcohols do not promote pancreatic hormone excretion (Gutkowski, 2004).
Before you can understand the action of xylitol, you must first understand the process involved in cavity formation. An article published in the Journal of the American Dental Association states, “Dental caries is a bacterial disease in which diet is a major etiologic factor” (Burt, 2006). Bacteria consider carbohydrates to be a food. Anytime food or drink enters the oral cavity, especially food high in carbohydrates, the bacteria “eat” the sugar. When the sugar is metabolized by the bacteria, acid is produced as a by-product. Streptococcus mutans, the main bacteria involved in decay, proliferates in this acidic environment. The bacteria sit on the teeth, allowing the acid to sit on the teeth. The acid breaks the calcium-phosphate matrix resulting in weakened enamel and allowing the bacteria into the tooth causing decay.
Fluoride is one of the common agents used to prevent decay. It works by slipping in between the broken calcium-phosphate bonds and creating a stronger matrix – this is especially true of acidulated phosphate fluoride which works by breaking the bonds and rebuilding them stronger. “This is all done in the name of fighting decay. This disregards the bacterial nature of the disease and ignores it as an infection” (Gutkowski, 2004). For years people have tried to quit using sugar in an effort to prevent decay; however, this is ineffective because people do not want to change their diet permanently. Scientists took a hint from people trying to quit smoking and decided to recommend a sugar substitute (Burt, 2006). With the use of xylitol, a dramatic decrease in dental caries has been noted along with arrest and some reversal of existing caries. The effect is long-lasting and possibly permanent (Xylitol, 2009).
Xylitol works in several ways. Gum chewing (any kind of gum) stimulates salivary flow thereby increasing the buffering capacity of saliva and neutralizes the acids produced by eating (Burt, 2006). When xylitol is added to the gum and thus to the saliva, the pH is further restored because bacteria do not metabolize xylitol. (Sellman, 2003). In fact, bacteria do not recognize xylitol as sugar; therefore, the bacteria cannot proliferate because they essentially starve to death (Sidder, 2007).
Another way xylitol works is by reducing accumulation of bacterial plaque (Burt, 2006). Plaque is mostly made up of microorganisms. When these organisms fail to thrive, their numbers are reduced, thereby reducing the accumulation of plaque on the teeth. With the death of S. mutans other microorganisms may thrive, but they have less veracity.
Xylitol has been shown to have benefits for a child when used by a mother. Infants do not have an established oral flora when they are born. Over time, this is developed and the oral flora of the mother has a great impact on the composition of the flora of the child due to factors such as kissing, sharing food, sharing cups, and things of that nature. In the Journal of the American Dental Association, Burt writes that there was a study done in Finland to study the results of xylitol use in a mother on the child. The study used 195 mother-infant pairs and all of the women used in the study had a significant level of Streptococcus mutans in their saliva. The study showed that the children of mothers who chewed xylitol gum had a significant reduction in the colonization of S. mutans when compared with the mothers who used only fluoride or a chlorhexidine rinse (2006).
In addition to its ability to prevent caries, xylitol has also been shown to prevent oral candidiasis by decreasing the ability of the fungus to adhere to the oral mucosa (Gutkowski, 2004). A study was done on adults over 60 years of age who were frail, but otherwise healthy. In the study, Group A was given no xylitol gum, Group B was given xylitol gum, and Group C was given xylitol gum with an antimicrobial agent. “At the end of the study, the researchers reported that the group who received xylitol gum had substantially lowered their risk of developing thrush, a fungal or yeast infection that can cause mouth soreness” (Sellman, 2003).
Xylitol has very few adverse effects. The only one mentioned in the articles is that it can act as a laxative and cause gastrointestinal upset; however, this can be prevented by slowly increasing the amount consumed in small increments (Gutkowski, 2004).
Xylitol has been shown time and time again to have numerous oral health benefits. For the patient interested in adding it to their diet, it can be recommended that they chew gum sweetened with xylitol. This method of incorporating xylitol into your diet is cost effective and easy and gives the added benefit of increased saliva production. Xylitol is also available in powdered form in some health food stores for use in recipes. Connie Sidder recommends in her article to not use anymore than one cup of xylitol in a recipe in order to prevent the laxative effects of it (2007).
References
Burt, B.A. (2006). The use of sorbitol- and xylitol-sweetened chewing gum in caries control [Electronic Version]. Journal of the American Dental Association, 137, 190-196.
Gutkowski, S. (2004). The Magic of Xylitol [Electronic Version]. RDH, March 2004.
Sellman, S. Nexus New Times, January-February 2003. Retrived on February 19, 2009 from http://www.xylitolcanada.come/media.htm
Sidder, C. (2007). The Practical Use of Xylitol [Electronic Version]. RDH, January 2007.
Xylitol. Retrieved February 19, 2009 from http://www.xylitol.org/main.asp
Xylitol is a white substance with a crystalline structure that looks and tastes like sugar. It is a natural substance produced in amounts up to 15 grams by our own bodies during normal metabolism and is found in foods such as berries, lettuce, and mushrooms (Xylitol, 2009). Cup for cup xylitol’s sweetness equals that of sugar. The FDA approved xylitol for use in special dietary foods in 1963 and is safe when consumed in amounts of less than 15 grams per day, with the recommended amount being 7-14 grams per day (Burt, 2006; Xylitol, 2009). Xylitol is safe for use in diabetic patients because the sugar alcohols do not promote pancreatic hormone excretion (Gutkowski, 2004).
Before you can understand the action of xylitol, you must first understand the process involved in cavity formation. An article published in the Journal of the American Dental Association states, “Dental caries is a bacterial disease in which diet is a major etiologic factor” (Burt, 2006). Bacteria consider carbohydrates to be a food. Anytime food or drink enters the oral cavity, especially food high in carbohydrates, the bacteria “eat” the sugar. When the sugar is metabolized by the bacteria, acid is produced as a by-product. Streptococcus mutans, the main bacteria involved in decay, proliferates in this acidic environment. The bacteria sit on the teeth, allowing the acid to sit on the teeth. The acid breaks the calcium-phosphate matrix resulting in weakened enamel and allowing the bacteria into the tooth causing decay.
Fluoride is one of the common agents used to prevent decay. It works by slipping in between the broken calcium-phosphate bonds and creating a stronger matrix – this is especially true of acidulated phosphate fluoride which works by breaking the bonds and rebuilding them stronger. “This is all done in the name of fighting decay. This disregards the bacterial nature of the disease and ignores it as an infection” (Gutkowski, 2004). For years people have tried to quit using sugar in an effort to prevent decay; however, this is ineffective because people do not want to change their diet permanently. Scientists took a hint from people trying to quit smoking and decided to recommend a sugar substitute (Burt, 2006). With the use of xylitol, a dramatic decrease in dental caries has been noted along with arrest and some reversal of existing caries. The effect is long-lasting and possibly permanent (Xylitol, 2009).
Xylitol works in several ways. Gum chewing (any kind of gum) stimulates salivary flow thereby increasing the buffering capacity of saliva and neutralizes the acids produced by eating (Burt, 2006). When xylitol is added to the gum and thus to the saliva, the pH is further restored because bacteria do not metabolize xylitol. (Sellman, 2003). In fact, bacteria do not recognize xylitol as sugar; therefore, the bacteria cannot proliferate because they essentially starve to death (Sidder, 2007).
Another way xylitol works is by reducing accumulation of bacterial plaque (Burt, 2006). Plaque is mostly made up of microorganisms. When these organisms fail to thrive, their numbers are reduced, thereby reducing the accumulation of plaque on the teeth. With the death of S. mutans other microorganisms may thrive, but they have less veracity.
Xylitol has been shown to have benefits for a child when used by a mother. Infants do not have an established oral flora when they are born. Over time, this is developed and the oral flora of the mother has a great impact on the composition of the flora of the child due to factors such as kissing, sharing food, sharing cups, and things of that nature. In the Journal of the American Dental Association, Burt writes that there was a study done in Finland to study the results of xylitol use in a mother on the child. The study used 195 mother-infant pairs and all of the women used in the study had a significant level of Streptococcus mutans in their saliva. The study showed that the children of mothers who chewed xylitol gum had a significant reduction in the colonization of S. mutans when compared with the mothers who used only fluoride or a chlorhexidine rinse (2006).
In addition to its ability to prevent caries, xylitol has also been shown to prevent oral candidiasis by decreasing the ability of the fungus to adhere to the oral mucosa (Gutkowski, 2004). A study was done on adults over 60 years of age who were frail, but otherwise healthy. In the study, Group A was given no xylitol gum, Group B was given xylitol gum, and Group C was given xylitol gum with an antimicrobial agent. “At the end of the study, the researchers reported that the group who received xylitol gum had substantially lowered their risk of developing thrush, a fungal or yeast infection that can cause mouth soreness” (Sellman, 2003).
Xylitol has very few adverse effects. The only one mentioned in the articles is that it can act as a laxative and cause gastrointestinal upset; however, this can be prevented by slowly increasing the amount consumed in small increments (Gutkowski, 2004).
Xylitol has been shown time and time again to have numerous oral health benefits. For the patient interested in adding it to their diet, it can be recommended that they chew gum sweetened with xylitol. This method of incorporating xylitol into your diet is cost effective and easy and gives the added benefit of increased saliva production. Xylitol is also available in powdered form in some health food stores for use in recipes. Connie Sidder recommends in her article to not use anymore than one cup of xylitol in a recipe in order to prevent the laxative effects of it (2007).
References
Burt, B.A. (2006). The use of sorbitol- and xylitol-sweetened chewing gum in caries control [Electronic Version]. Journal of the American Dental Association, 137, 190-196.
Gutkowski, S. (2004). The Magic of Xylitol [Electronic Version]. RDH, March 2004.
Sellman, S. Nexus New Times, January-February 2003. Retrived on February 19, 2009 from http://www.xylitolcanada.come/media.htm
Sidder, C. (2007). The Practical Use of Xylitol [Electronic Version]. RDH, January 2007.
Xylitol. Retrieved February 19, 2009 from http://www.xylitol.org/main.asp
Monday, February 9, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
In Which the Red Sea Parts
The Israelites escaped Egypt with Moses as their leader, but God as their guide. God told Pharaoh, "Let My people go." After a bit (ok, a lot) of persuasion, he finally did. So, guided by a pillar of fire/ cloud, the Israelites were led toward the Red Sea. Pharaoh must have been hit in the head by a few too many frogs or perhaps got some parasite that decided to eat away at his brain from drinking the bloody water, because he obviously was having some issues with his memory when he had the bright idea to pursue the Israelites. I mean, really -- what was this guy thinking?
So, anyway Pharaoh and his chariots and his posse think the Israelites are wandering aimlessly around and get this bright idea to pursue and overtake them. The Israelites reach the Red Sea and realize that they're stuck between the sea and the mountain and have no where to go.
Clearly, the Israelites had some memory issues too because they started whining to Moses, "You brought us out here in the middle of nowhere to die!! We could have just stayed in Egypt slaved away!" Whine, whine, whine.
Moses somehow managed to avoid the Brain Eating Parasite, because he said, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still" (Exodus 14:13, 14).
So, God throws up a wall of darkness and the Egyptians can't see where to go and they lose sight of the Israelites (who are left in the light). Then, God tells Moses to stretch his hand out over the sea and it will part.
The Whiners walk through the sea and make it safely through before the Egyptians catch up to them. The Egyptians start walking through and the waters come crashing down on top of their heads and they all drown.
I believe with all my heart that God has led me to dentistry. He has opened so many doors for me and has made it abundantly clear that this is where he wants me to be. Just like the Israelites, I am surrounded on all sides by reasons that I can't do it. In front of me is the Red Sea of Board Exams. The other side is the Mountain of Projects that I can't climb. And in hot pursuit are the Army of Tests that are determined to kill me. I don't know how I will cross the sea. I don't know how I'll climb the mountain. I don't know how I'll defend myself against the army. But I know that God has called me to dentistry and I keep reminding myself of the saying, "If God leads you to it, He'll lead you through it."
I need only to be still. The Lord will fight for me.
I'm not my own, I've been carried by you all my life.
Everything rides on hope now.
Everything rides on faith somehow.
Addison Road
So, anyway Pharaoh and his chariots and his posse think the Israelites are wandering aimlessly around and get this bright idea to pursue and overtake them. The Israelites reach the Red Sea and realize that they're stuck between the sea and the mountain and have no where to go.
Clearly, the Israelites had some memory issues too because they started whining to Moses, "You brought us out here in the middle of nowhere to die!! We could have just stayed in Egypt slaved away!" Whine, whine, whine.
Moses somehow managed to avoid the Brain Eating Parasite, because he said, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still" (Exodus 14:13, 14).
So, God throws up a wall of darkness and the Egyptians can't see where to go and they lose sight of the Israelites (who are left in the light). Then, God tells Moses to stretch his hand out over the sea and it will part.
The Whiners walk through the sea and make it safely through before the Egyptians catch up to them. The Egyptians start walking through and the waters come crashing down on top of their heads and they all drown.
I believe with all my heart that God has led me to dentistry. He has opened so many doors for me and has made it abundantly clear that this is where he wants me to be. Just like the Israelites, I am surrounded on all sides by reasons that I can't do it. In front of me is the Red Sea of Board Exams. The other side is the Mountain of Projects that I can't climb. And in hot pursuit are the Army of Tests that are determined to kill me. I don't know how I will cross the sea. I don't know how I'll climb the mountain. I don't know how I'll defend myself against the army. But I know that God has called me to dentistry and I keep reminding myself of the saying, "If God leads you to it, He'll lead you through it."
I need only to be still. The Lord will fight for me.
I'm not my own, I've been carried by you all my life.
Everything rides on hope now.
Everything rides on faith somehow.
Addison Road
Friday, February 6, 2009
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