NOW, THE NEWS:
BRITISH PARENTS WELCOME RARE, 1-IN-200-MILLION IDENTICAL BOY TRIPLETS
from: LiveAction News
(5 Oct.) Gina Dewdney and her husband Craig didn't think they would become pregnant immediately after deciding to try, but they were even more surprised when they found out they were expecting rare, 1-in-200-million identical triplets who shared a placenta.
"We thought, let's see what happens and within a month I fell pregnant," explained Dewdney to ECHO. "I found out very early that I was pregnant, within a few weeks, and I started getting really severe migraines, which I don't usually suffer from. But I was having visual migraines, really bad headaches and insomnia - I just couldn't sleep and kept waking up in the middle of the night wide awake. I had this feeling that there was more than one baby and I had a feeling we were having twins."
An ultrasound at 13 weeks confirmed that they were pregnant with twins, but after about 20 minutes of scanning, everyone noticed a third little head on the screen. They were told they were having identical twin girls and a boy and that the placenta had fused. It was tough to get a clear picture though because "someone's foot would get in the way or someone's head or they would kick each other."
"The sonographer said, 'Oh my God, in 26 years of scanning I've never found triplets.' I was thinking stop there, don't find anymore! So it was quite a shock. I just remember screaming out, 'three?'" explained Dewdney. The parents excitedly went out and bought both boy and girl clothes. But at 24 weeks... [read more...]
COMMENTARY: Thank the Lord for Gina Dewdney safely giving birth to these identical triplet boys!
KAZAKHSTAN: NEW RELIGIOUS MEETING RESTRICTIONS NOW IN SENATE
from: Forum 18 News Service
(11 Oct.) Amendments to the Religion Law to widen state religious censorship and to make holding religious meetings away from state-registered places of worship more difficult were approved on 6 October by the lower house of Kazakhstan's Parliament, the Majilis. They are now in the upper house, the Senate.
Any state-registered religious community which does not own its own building, or wants to hold a pilgrimage or other event away from their own place of worship, would have to have advance state permission for the meeting or event, if these amendments are adopted by the Senate and signed by President Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev.
Against international law, the regime already bans the exercise of freedom of religion by communities which do not have state registration or permission to exist. Members of many religious communities have described the state registration process as "complex", "burdensome", "arbitrary", "unnecessary" and "expensive".
The new provision requiring seeking permission to hold religious meetings away from state-registered places of worship "particularly harshens the law", one legal expert told Forum 18. "For religious associations which have no place of worship, each time they want to organise a meeting - for example for worship - they will need to ask the authorities in advance".
The Religion Law changes would require state-registered religious communities to seek permission for such meetings at least 10 working days in advance, and provide exhaustive detail about the proposed event, according to the text published on the Senate website on 8 October. Officials are given many ways to arbitrarily refuse such requests. [read more...]
COMMENTARY: This is the same sort of legislation that was in force during the Soviet era: no religious gatherings outside registered places of worship, strict control against children attending worship meetings, and difficulty in obtaining state registration. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
WITH CROSSOVER BETWEEN AUTISM AND MENTAL HEALTH, DIAGNOSIS CAN BE TRICKY
from: Disability Scoop
(22 Oct.) Is this autism? Is this anxiety? ADHD? Depression? A behavioral disorder? For parents of kids with autism, often the answer in day-to-day life is a combination of those things. Recent studies show a strong link between autism and a mental health condition.
Last year, the University of British Columbia's Department of Psychology and the AJ Drexel Autism Institute at Drexel University published a study of more than 42,000 caregivers of children. It found that 77.7% of children with autism also had a mental health condition and 49.1% had two or more. The most common type was behavior or conduct problems, 60.8%; followed by attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, 48.4%; anxiety, 39.5%; and depression 15.7%.
By comparison, that same study found that only 14.1% of children without an autism diagnosis had a mental health condition. The prevalence of mental health disorders in children with autism increased as they got older, with 44.8% of preschoolers ages 3 to 5 with autism having one mental health condition, but 85% of adolescents ages 12 to 17 with autism having a mental health condition.
Additional studies back up these findings, including a study this year from Denmark that found a three times higher rate of a suicide attempt or death by suicide in people with autism. [read more...]
COMMENTARY: These studies indicate that not only does an autistic person's brain work differently, but it often it doesn't work correctly. Autism can be successfully treated, but it takes a great amount of time and effort to positively reinforce socially acceptable behavior.
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY CONGRATULATES ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH ON 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF ENTHRONEMENT AND THANKED HIM FOR ORTHODOX CHURCH OF UKRAINE
from: Religious Information Service of Ukraine
(22 Oct.) President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the 30th anniversary of his enthronement and thanked him for supporting Ukraine, the Ukrainian people, and the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, according to the text of the greeting, shared on Facebook by the Embassy of Ukraine in Turkey, as seen by Ukrinform.
"On behalf of the Ukrainian people and on my own behalf, I sincerely congratulate Your Holiness on the 30th anniversary of your election as Ecumenical Patriarch. Thirty years of ministry by Your Holiness have become an example of devotion to the ideals of love and justice, an expression of mercy and wisdom, fostering mutual respect and brotherhood between nations and representatives of different denominations and religions," the president wrote in his greeting.
The text states that the 30 years of Ukraine's Independence are inextricably marked by the constant care, guardianship, and prayers of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for Ukraine and its people. "The invaluable support by the Mother Church of Ukraine during its formation and amid difficult times of trials has enabled the Ukrainian people to defend their civilized choice, restore justice to the Orthodox Church of Ukrainian, and embark on the path of its strengthening and further development," the letter said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky wished Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew good health, many years of service to humanity, inspiration in the important and honorable mission of the "Green Patriarch" to protect the environment and fight for social justice around the world.
"Wishing your Holiness and the Mother Church of Constantinople peace, new achievements and prosperity, I hope for further fruitful communication and cooperation," the greeting letter reads. The president thanked the Ecumenical Patriarch for his visit to Ukraine on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the country's Independence. [read more...]
COMMENTARY: It is providential, not coincidental, that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the independent state of Ukraine are both celebrating thirty years this year.
W.H.O. CALLS FOR BETTER PALLIATIVE CARE WORLD-WIDE
from: BioEdge.org
(17 Oct) The topic of this year's World Hospice and Palliative Care Day on October 9 was "Leave no one behind: Equity in access to palliative care". The provision of palliative care in most countries lags far behind the need.
Each year, more than 56.8 million people, including 25.7 million in the last year of life, need palliative care, of whom 78% live in low- and middle-income countries. It is estimated that only about 12% receive it. WHO predicts that global demand will grow as populations age and the burden of noncommunicable diseases rises. By 2060, the need for palliative care is expected to nearly double.
Palliative care is one of the most inequitable areas of healthcare. There is strong evidence that the poor and marginalised are less able to access it. Of 25,000 palliative care services globally, only 30% are in lower and middle-income countries.
People are less likely to access pain treatment if they live in low- and middle-income countries. Morphine-equivalent opioids are an important aspect of pain treatment. Of the 298.5 metric tonnes distributed globally per year, only 0.1 metric tonne is distributed to low-income countries. This is despite the fact that the greatest need for palliative care and pain treatment is in low- and middle-income countries, where palliative care is often not financed as part of the health system. [read more...]
COMMENTARY: The use of opiods as painkillers when a person is dying must be very carefully monitored. There is a fine line separating palliative care from euthanasia - "mercy killing" for the sake of saving money in a government-financed "healthcare" system. The accompanying article BMJ champions 'assisted dying' is a prime example of this slippery slope.
THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT US - THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN US
from: Disabled World
(28 Sep.) Three new publications by Inclusive Futures have revealed how people with disabilities were not only disproportionately and 'catastrophically' excluded from COVID-19 pandemic planning and relief efforts, but that representative disability groups were vital in aiding those left behind by the systems that are supposed to support them.
Research shows that organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) in Africa and Asia worked for months, often without funding, to plug the gaps and provide life-saving support to people left behind by non-inclusive systems. The publications also paint a shocking picture of the devastating impact COVID-19 had on the lives of some of the most marginalized people with disabilities, particularly women and under-represented groups. To try and prevent this happening again, the reports provide learnings for making future disaster responses disability-inclusive.
Lorraine Wapling, Inclusive Futures technical lead, who worked on the research, has said:
"We knew this situation was bad for people with disabilities - but when we looked into the detail, it was even worse than we imagined. I was completely in shock. Despite all the hard work by organizations of persons with disabilities, the right to be included in times of crisis, still seems far from being achieved."
She added:
"The disability organizations are the shining light here - we need to turn the spotlight on them, learn from them and ensure their expertise and drive is supported, funded and built on."
The research shows that disability organizations reported a huge increase in need during lockdowns in each country. They found that many people with disabilities often could not access communications about COVID-19 or were excluded from government food and financial assistance or social protection. [read more...]
COMMENTARY: In times of distress, it is often the weakest and most vulnerable who are simply left behind. But Christ's Gospel message is aimed specifically at such people. We must pray for and advocate for them.
NOW, OUR VIEWS:
In Victor Davis Hanson's article "Is America Repeating Cultural Split Between Rome and Byzantine Empire?" he compares the difference between the paganized society of the Western Roman Empire and the still-Christianized society of the Eastern Byzantine Empire. But the same comparson can be made between the paganized society of Samaria and Israel versus the still-Godfearing society of Judah:
"Concerning the prophets. My heart within me is broken, all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine has overcome, because of the Lord, and because of His holy words. For the land is full of adulterers; for the land mourns because of the curse; the pastures of the wilderness have dried up. Their course is evil, and their might is not right; for both prophet and priest are hypocrites; yes, I have found their wickedness in My house, says the Lord. Therefore their way shall be for them as slippery places in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall in it; for I will bring evil on them, even the year of their visitation, says the Lord. I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied by Baal, and caused my people Israel to err. In the prophets of Jerusalem also I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies; and they strengthen the hands of evil-doers, so that no one returns from his wickedness: all of them have become to me as Sodom, and its inhabitants as Gomorrah." (Jeremiah 23:9-14)
Karen Malone, whom we met while she was traveling through Moscow, began serving as a missionary in China in 1993. Karen worked with us for a week, then arranged to have our one-year "Social Ministry of the Church" courses translated into Chinese. While in China, she felt the Lord directing her to adopt a Chinese child who would be in great need of a permanent home. She felt through prayer that the Lord would give her a boy. She began the paperwork and adoption process in 2011. She lovingly stated in an email on December 12, 2014, "2 years ago I was anticipating meeting this little guy and I finally laid eyes on him Christmas Eve, signing papers for the adoption on Christmas day!" God blessed her with Silas and they began their journey in missions and life together.
Due to the government changes in China, Karen and Silas came to the US in 2013 but Karen was able to travel back to China again to serve in December, 2016. Karen has continued to do local mission work in the US, ministering through her hands in physical therapy, especially to stroke victims and to Seniors in the greatest of need.
Karen and Silas came to visit friends in Minnesota on Wednesday, September 29th, and planned to stay until the following Monday. By Saturday evening however, Karen had a headache, and Sunday morning she was bedridden with Covid symptoms, so their plan to continue their travels got postponed and they continued to stay put. By midweek, Karen's Covid symptoms seemed to be getting better, but her weakness continued. As the week progressed, coughing picked up, and she was less and less able to maintain any full conversation and we later learned that she had gotten pneumonia. Saturday evening they had an opportunity to test her oxygen levels, which were measuring low, and so we offered to call 911 to have them come and do a full assessment. Karen declined but instead asked us to bring her into the hospital first thing the next morning.
While in the hospital, Karen was put on oxygen and steroids to help with breathing. Tuesday afternoon, they were told that she wasn't progressing, but also not regressing at that point but that they were looking to transfer her to a different hospital for better care. Wednesday morning at 1:00am sadly is when she was put on a ventilator, with her consent, as her lungs had taken a big turn for the worse. The hospital transfer was around 5:30am but according to the second hospital, they did all emergency measures immediately upon her arrival.
Sadly, due to no visitor policies, Silas was unable to see his mother during her hospital stay. Around 6:30 though, they were given permission to head to the hospital, with the understanding that Silas could say goodbye. However, they didn't arrive until after Karen's death at 6:47a.m. Wednesday morning, October 13th, 2021. A Memorial Service for Karen at Bethel Fellowship Church in Minnesota is being planned for October 30th, 2021. Please pray for Silas, now 12 years old and without a mother.
Please remember to pray for Christians in Secularized Countries, and for...
Your fellow-servants,
Bob & Cheryl
p.s. We have laws against murder, rape, theft, slavery and child molestation. Who says you can't legislate morality?
This page may link to our Amazon and FastDomain.com affiliate accounts, so when you click on a link and buy something there, a small commission is credited to that account.
