text:
Home > Bible
Click here to listen to this material as a free MP3 recorded message.
This material is included in our published book about Bible inspiration. Click here for more information.
Human emotions play important roles in our lives. This is natural and may be quite wholesome. But we all realize that sometimes emotions cloud people's thinking, so they do things they should not. Emotions can be confusing, uncertain, even dangerous.
The purpose of this study is to consider the role emotions have in religion and to consider some ways that emotions cloud people's thinking in religion.
By "emotions" we mean inner feelings, sensations, moods, and thrills, such as excitement, anger, fear, sorrow, hate, etc.
Consider the influence emotions may have and the problems they may cause in some areas of religion:
They may believe in a church, preacher, or doctrine, because they "feel good" about it, regardless of whether or not they have found convincing evidence that it is true.
Some almost rebel against the need for study and evidence in religion. They view faith as a "leap in the dark" based on feelings. A popular song said, "It can't be wrong when it feels so right." That expresses the approach some take to determining their religious views.
Consider some specific examples.
Some people had emotional experiences that convinced them they were saved. Maybe they attended a "revival" with rhythmic music, hypnotic preaching, clapping, excitement, and people claiming to "feel the Spirit moving." Perhaps emotional appeals brought them to the "mourner's bench" where they tried to "pray through."
Or some may have experienced guilt or some other deep emotional need, and they prayed to God for help. Then maybe they have heard some religious teaching and assumed this was God's answer. Maybe they received a deep sense of peace and warmth, so they just "feel sure" they are saved. Asked to describe this feeling, they say, "It's better felt than told, but if you ever feel it, you'll know it." Others have said, "I wouldn't trade this feeling for a stack of Bibles."
Others may pray for healing or some other great blessing. Perhaps someone tells them to "expect a miracle." Maybe they speak sounds they had never spoken before, so they conclude they "spoke in tongues." This may give a deep emotional conviction that God has accepted them or that they are "led by the Spirit" to do certain things.
Some call this a "burning in the bosom." Such feelings often come naturally, as when your ball team wins or you meet a pretty girl. But when it happens after a preacher suggested that you watch for it, people conclude God is telling them that the teacher and his message were from God, etc. The result is that beliefs are accepted on the basis of feelings, not evidence.
People may accept a doctrine because "my dear mother (or other loved one) believed this, and I just can't believe she is lost." Or some programs and organizations make emotional appeals for money to help needy people or to save lost souls, despite the fact the program or organization itself may be corrupt or unscriptural. Many such examples could be given.
Can we be sure we are right religiously just because we feel right, or because we prayed and had an emotional experience?
All of us know instances where feelings have led to serious mistakes. Movies, books, and songs urge people to "follow your heart." The Star Wars characters said, "Reach out with your feelings," and "What do your feelings tell you?" It makes good entertainment, but many people who try it in real life have lived to regret it.
* Young people "feel sure" they are in love, so they marry on impulse, then regret it for the rest of their lives.
* People become afraid and "feel sure" they hear a thief, so they shoot and kill a family member.
* Strong emotions may lead to adultery, killing, stealing, and other evils.
Are these acts right just because our emotions led us to do them?
The New Testament is filled with examples of people who needed to know right from wrong. Where were such people ever told to trust their feelings or to pray for a "burning in the bosom" to tell them whether a church or belief is right or wrong?
2 Timothy 3:16,17 - The Scriptures provide us to "all good works." If we ought to trust our feelings to tell us right from wrong, then the Bible should say so. Where does it say this?
When questioned, Mormons, Pentecostals, Catholics, Baptists, and Charismatics often tell about their emotional experiences. They may tell how they prayed to know what was right or had an experience that gave them peace and assurance that they were right. There is not a nickel's worth of difference in their stories that would convince you which one believes the truth. Yet they thoroughly contradict one another and many believe the others are wrong. Do the feelings really prove they are all pleasing to God?
1 Corinthians 1:10-13 - God rebukes religious division and contradictions. Yet such division is inevitable if we follow our feelings, because feelings vary so much from person to person and from time to time.
Following feelings to guide us in religion results in division, but God condemns division. Therefore, God does not want us to follow our feelings in religion!
[1 Cor. 14:33; John 17:20,21; Ephesians 4:3-6; Galatians 5:19-21]
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 - Satan is a deceiver, liar, and counterfeiter. Everyone knows that Satan and evil may inspire feelings like anger, hate, etc. So why can't they inspire us to feel sure certain doctrines are true, when really they are not true? (2 Cor. 11:3; Matthew 24:24).
I read of a Buddhist monk who felt he should have other monks kick him down a flight of over 250 stairs. They did. Afterward he said he "felt a great sense of peace with God." Did his feelings prove God was pleased with him? Should we all do the same?
Hosts of other people tell experiences that led them to "feel sure" they were right, but their practices thoroughly contradict the Bible. How do you know when a feeling does or does not really tell you God's will? How can you be sure your feeling is really from God?
Some emotions we are told to control are:
Fear - 2 Timothy 1:7 (cf. Joshua 1:9; Revelation 2:10)
Anger - James 1:19,20 (cf. Proverbs 16:32; Matthew 5:22)
Hatred (1 John 3:15; 4:20)
Love (1 John 2:15-17; 1 Timothy 6:10; 2 Timothy 3:2-4)
Joy (1 Corinthians 13:6)
These emotions are not necessarily bad, but they can lead to serious error if we let them control us. If we cannot trust these emotions to guide us, how can we trust any emotions? How could we know which to trust and which not to trust?
The Bible specifically warns that the feelings of our hearts may lead us into error.
Jeremiah 17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all things and is exceedingly corrupt. Who can know it? Would God use something so unreliable to lead us to truth? [Matt. 15:18-20; Prov. 4:23]
Proverbs 14:12 - There is a way that seems right to man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. How can this be harmonized with the idea that "it can't be wrong if it feels so right"?
Proverbs 28:26 - He who trusts in his own heart is a fool. Why? Because the urgings of the heart are unreliable and often lead to error! Poets may say to "follow your heart." But the Bible confirms what we all really know: trusting your feelings can lead to tragic error.
Acts 26:9 - Saul of Tarsus really thought that he ought to do many things contrary to Jesus. He felt sure he was right. But he was really the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:12-15).
Jeremiah 10:23 - Proper guidance in how to live is not found inside man. It comes from outside man. Clearly we cannot expect to find assurance of truth in our feelings.
Emotions are neither good nor bad of themselves, but God never intended for them to guide us or to reveal what is good or bad. We should control them, not let them control us. They are followers, not leaders. To follow them is to get the "cart before the horse."
To believe that we can know right from wrong by praying for a feeling or by following our emotions is to pervert the purpose of feelings and to expose ourselves to all sorts of false practices.
(Study also Matthew 7:21-23 and 2 Corinthians 10:18.)
If we cannot know right from wrong by following our feelings, how can we know? It was exactly to meet this need that God gave us the Bible, the Scriptures.
Romans 10:17 - Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Faith does not come by feelings or by praying for emotional experiences.
Psalms 119:105 - God's word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. The Bible (not feelings) shows to us the proper way to go. (Cf. Psalm 19:7-11.)
Acts 17:2,3 - How did the apostles convince people what is right or wrong? Did they say to pray for a feeling of peace and assurance? Did they arrange emotional meetings with exciting music, shouting, clapping, and prayers at the mourners' bench? No. They just reasoned with people from the Scriptures! (See also Acts 28:23; 18:28; 17:17; 18:4,19; 19:8,9; 24:25.)
1 Peter 3:15 - We too should persuade people, not by telling them to follow their emotions, but by giving them reasons: evidence from God's word.
John 20:29-31 - The Scriptures were written to provide the evidence people need in order to believe and be saved. Bible writers did miracles to prove their message was from God, but now their message and eyewitness testimony of their miracles is recorded in Scripture. So we do not need to see miracles today; we believe on the basis of the testimony in the written word.
Acts 17:11 - To know whether or not some teaching is true, we should search the Scriptures daily, not pray for an emotional experience.
Galatians 1:8,9; 1 John 4:1,6; 2 John 9-11 - Many false prophets are in the world. How do we know who speaks the truth? Not by feelings, but by comparing what men teach to the true gospel recorded in the New Testament.
2 Timothy 3:13-17 - The Scriptures are the guide God provided so we can avoid being deceived. What we need is, not an emotional experience, but a knowledge of the Scriptures that teach, correct, instruct, and provide us to all good works. (Cf. 4:1-4.)
1 John 2:3-6 - How can we know whether we know God and are in fellowship with Him? Not by emotions, but by whether or not we keep His commands. And the commands are recorded in the Scriptures - 1 Corinthians 14:37 (cf. 1 John 3:7-10).
This is why the Bible so frequently tells us to study diligently and meditate on God's word - 2 Timothy 2:15; Joshua 1:7,8; John 8:31,32; Psalm 1:1,2; 119:11,42-48,97-99. People go into error, not because they lack an emotional experience, but because they lack knowledge of the Scriptures (Matthew 22:29; Romans 10:1-3; Hosea 4:6).
When people rely on emotions, they often end up in error because emotions are fallible and changing. The Scriptures, however, are infallible and can never be wrong (John 17:17; Psalm 119:128; 33:4; 19:8; Romans 3:4). But we must study the Bible diligently with an honest heart, or we will misunderstand it and still be wrong.
True, the passages do say to pray for wisdom. What they don't say is to pray for a "burning in the bosom" or a feeling! To conclude that a prayer for wisdom will be answered by a feeling is to assume what is nowhere taught in Scripture and in fact contradicts the many passages we have studied.
In order to properly understand Bible teaching, we must consider other passages about the subject (Acts 3:22,23; Matthew 28:20; Matthew 4:5-7). Specifically, to understand how God answers prayer for wisdom, we must remember that God answers prayer only if we pray according to His will (1 John 5:14; Matthew 26:36-46).
To illustrate, the Bible says to pray for bread (Matthew 6:11), but other passages says we must work for food (2 Thessalonians 3:8-10). This shows that the way God answers a prayer for food, is to help us obtain a job so we can work for it.
Likewise, God will answer a prayer for wisdom and knowledge in accordance with His will, not contrary to it. But we have already learned what His will says. It says that the truth is revealed in the Scriptures, and in order to learn what is true we must study. So the prayer for bread is answered when we work, and the prayer for wisdom is answered when we study God's word. To pray for God to tell us right from wrong by a feeling, would be an unscriptural prayer.
So the Scriptures are our God-given guide in religion. If we trust our emotions to show us right from wrong, we pervert the purpose of emotions and show a lack of faith in the Bible.
People often mistake emotional feelings for true spiritual-mindedness. When they get excited, they "feel close to God" or claim they "feel the Spirit moving." Some people will only attend churches where they get this emotional "high." So some churches appeal to such thinking by deliberately arranging activities that provoke excitement and emotional stimulation. They intentionally use such emotionalism to draw crowds. Consider some examples:
Beautiful cathedrals with fancy artwork to create a "mood" that people enjoy
Exciting preachers with dramatic eloquence or dynamic speaking rhythm that arouses and excites
Thrilling music with instruments and special singing groups or with hypnotic rhythms that arouse, excite, entertain, and "move the audience" (emotionally)
External rituals such as lighting candles and dimming lights to create a mood
"Tongue-speaking" and "healing testimonials" that excite people emotionally - Often it is the emotions involved that lead people to desire these gifts, regardless of what the Bible says about the true purpose and use of the gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14).
Clapping, shouting, continual "Amens" and "Praise the Lord" - Such activities are often deliberately used by preachers to stir up emotions and excitement.
Some people think these activities are highly "spiritual," but honest observation shows that they are just natural emotions, which appeal to man's carnal, physical desire for excitement and thrills. They are not truly spiritual at all, but are mere externals. They motivate people by means of emotional excitement very similar to what attracts people to ball games, rock concerts, and pictures of pretty girls. People seek "a good time," enjoying the mood and excitement. But excitement does not equal spirituality.
Outside religion, such desires are often used to lead people to participate in immoral conduct. When done in the name of religion, such motivations often lead to unscriptural beliefs and practices, which are justified as being the will of God but which really do nothing but satisfy fleshly desires.
Is God really pleased by such motivation in worship?
Revelation 4:9-11 - We worship in order to give God honor, glory, and thanks.
Hebrews 13:15 - We "offer the sacrifice of praise to God..., the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."
Isaiah 55:8,9; Luke 16:15 - But what pleases us and what pleases God are often two entirely different things. We must determine what we do in worship, then, according to what God wants, regardless of whether or not it excites us or gives us enjoyment.
Sometimes people say, "I just don't get anything out of worship," meaning that it does not please them like they expect it to. But this is no excuse for failing to worship, or for changing the worship so that it does please us. The purpose of worship is to please God, not to please the worshipers. We should participate, not for the feeling we "get," but for the honor we can give to God.
(See also 1 Chron. 29:10-13; Neh. 9:5,6; Psalm 148).
Hebrews 10:24,25 - We assemble to "provoke one another to love and good works" and to "exhort one another." Note that it does not say to provoke one another to excitement and a "good time."
Colossians 3:16 - We sing to "teach and admonish one another" as well as to express praise to God.
2 Timothy 4:2-4; 2 Corinthians 7:8-10 - Scriptural teaching may, at times, rebuke people and lead them to sorrow for sin. This may not be enjoyable or pleasing to the people, but it is still an essential part of worship.
(See also Acts 20:7; 11:26; 1 Corinthians 14:19-26; 1 Thessalonians 2:4).
Matthew 15:9 - Worship based on human invention is vain. We must avoid things that people invent or choose to participate in, either because of human wisdom or because of human feelings.
Colossians 3:17 - Everything we do must be in Jesus' name (by His authority).
2 John 9; Galatians 1:8,9 - We are separated from God if we participate in any practice that cannot be found in God's word.
So we should not design acts of worship or choose to participate in them simply or primarily because they give people a certain feeling or emotion. We must determine what we practice or participate in wholly on the basis of what God's word says to do.
Now when Christians worship as God instructs, they surely will often experience emotions. This is good. But again the point is that we must control our emotions, not let them control our decisions about what we do.
All people have emotions. But emotions are cyclical. People have highs and lows. Some go way high and then way low. Others vary relatively little. But everyone has times when we are emotionally up and times we are down or "blue." If the purpose or success of worship were to be measured by our emotions, there would be no standard for how to worship or what constituted acceptable worship, because it would vary so much.
So the standard God set is an absolute one, not determined by our emotions. We must choose to do what God says to do, motivated by our devotion and trust toward Him, regardless of what our emotions would encourage us to do. As we obey God in this way, we will develop a true and abiding sense of joy, not based on natural thrills or artificial excitement, but based on our conviction that we have pleased God according to His will. This is true spirituality.
(See also Phil. 4:4; Psa. 122:1; 1 Chron. 16:29-31.)
When emotions are the emphasis, many things may be done that excite and thrill, regardless of whether or not they are reasonable or easily understood. For example, instruments, clapping, shouting, and strong musical rhythms arouse feelings, but convey no understandable message. Continual repetition of "Amen," and "Praise the Lord" may lead to excitement with no thought of the meaning of the expressions.
"Tongue-speaking," as practiced today, never of itself conveys an understandable message, and often no effort is made to "interpret." Some preachers preach with a sing-song, hypnotic rhythm, often interrupted by interjections from the audience, to produce excitement with little emphasis on the meaning of the message.
Mark 7:14; Ephesians 5:17 - The intent of our teaching should be to convey a message that people can understand (see also Colossians 1:9; Ephesians 3:3-5).
Nehemiah 8:8 - The Levites taught Israel by reading God's law and then giving the sense so as to cause people to understand.
Acts 17:2,17; 18:4,19,28 - Faithful teachers taught people by reasoning with them. While emotions may have been produced as a side effect, they were never the main emphasis. People's convictions must be based on evidence and on the meaning or content of the message, not on emotion. (See also Acts 19:8,9; 24:25; 28:23; etc.)
1 Corinthians 14 - This chapter discusses spiritual gifts in the age when they existed, prior to the completion of the Scriptures ("that which is perfect" - cf. 1 Cor. 13:8-13 to James 1:25; 2 Timothy 3:16,17; etc.). However, the principles discussed would apply to all things done in worship assemblies (vv 26,40). All is to be done for the purpose of edifying by means of conveying an understandable message (vv 6,9,12,19,26).
Specifically, singing and praying must be understandable (vv 15-17). Unbelievers will not be persuaded and converted unless they hear a message they can understand (vv 23-25). God is not the author of confusion (v33), so worship must be decent and orderly (v40).
When they emphasize emotions, people depart from proper concern for an understandable message. Much of what is done is confusing at best or even completely incapable of being understood. The emphasis is on feeling, not on reasoning and understanding. This is clearly rebuked in 1 Corinthians 14.
Surely such expressions have a proper place in a Christian's vocabulary. But consider:
Matthew 6:7 - Jesus taught His disciples to not use "vain repetitions." Vain repetition refers to repeating words or phrases without seriously considering the meaning. We are just mouthing words. In their desire to stir up emotions, some preachers and audiences repeat "amen" and "praise the Lord" so often that they become vain repetitions.
I have heard audiences "amen" a preacher so much that they said it even when he made completely meaningless statements. One preacher got tangled in the microphone cord so he made some insignificant comment about the cord, and several people said "Amen"!
I have talked with charismatic folks who used the phrase "Praise the Lord" for everything. We would discuss a practice they participated in, and I would give a Scripture to show why I believed they were wrong. Even when they could not answer or explain their practice in harmony with the passage, they said, "Oh well. Praise the Lord!" Surely these expressions have lost their true meaning to these people. They are "vain repetitions."
"Amen" ("so be it") is used Scripturally at the end of prayers (1 Corinthians 14:16; Matthew 6:13), at the end of songs (Psalm 41:13; 72:19; etc.), or at the end of a book or sermon (Matthew 28:20; Romans 16:27; 2 Corinthians 13:14; etc.). It is sometimes used when there is a logical break in thought in a lesson (Romans 1:25; 9:5; 11:36; 15:33; Ephesians 3:21; etc.).
But never in the Bible is "amen" used in ways that repeatedly interrupt the train of thought, even in the middle of sentences. Such a practice hinders the ability of the speaker to reason with the audience. And continual use of the word causes it to lose its significance and become a "vain repetition."
The word "Amen" is used less than 80 times in the whole Bible (King James Version). That amounts to about one occurrence in every twenty pages! Yet some preachers and audiences use it that often in ten minutes of a sermon!
We have learned in this study that we should avoid the abuse of emotions. At the same time, we should not overreact by concluding that all expression of emotion is bad and should be suppressed. The truth is that emotions can be good, but only when we are in control so that we are doing what is scriptural, understandable, and edifying.
It is only good and natural for Christians to feel and express emotions as they serve God. But we must not let emotions determine for us what we will believe or what we will do in worship, nor may we let them hinder people from understanding the meaning of what is done in worship.
What is the basis for your beliefs and your practices in worship?
Copyright 1979, 2000, 2009, David E. Pratte; gospelway.com
Local churches and individuals may, within limits, distribute this Bible study guide for free, but not for sale. Web sites may link to this page but not reproduce it. For details click here for our copyright guidelines.
gospelway.com - Return to the Gospel Way home page.
Please bookmark our site in your favorites.
We welcome links to us from other sites :
gospelway.com - The Gospel Way: Free Bible Study Materials & Guides
Scripture quotations are generally from the New King James Version (NKJV), copyright 1982, 1988 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. used by permission. All rights reserved.


text:
Unemployment drops last month in most Wisconsin cities, counties
Unemployment is down in most Wisconsin cities and counties in May.
The state Department of Workforce Development reported Wednesday that unemployment rates in May either decreased or remained the same in 23 of the state's 32 largest cities. Unemployment rates dropped in 69 of 72 counties and remained unchanged in the other three.
Wisconsin's monthly unemployment rate in May was 5.7 percent, the lowest it's been since October 2008.
Racine had the highest unemployment rate of any city at 9.7 percent, followed by Beloit at 8.9 percent.
Menominee County had the highest rate for any county at 15.1 percent, followed by Iron County at 11.3 percent.
Dane and Pierce counties were the lowest at 3.8 percent.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Iowa says little movement of invasive insect
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Agriculture officials say there's little movement in northeast Iowa of an invasive insect known for killing ash trees.
The Iowa Emerald Ash Borer Team says final results from surveillance efforts in 2012 show little movement from the emerald ash borer. Two traps last year indicated the metallic green beetles had moved inland from the Mississippi River.
The insect was spotted in 2010 on Henderson Island in the Mississippi River in Allamakee County. The latest data shows the insects are still in Allamakee County but no longer on the island.
The county has been under a federal and state quarantine since 2010. It prohibits the movement of such items like firewood, ash nursery stock and ash timber.


text:
Fish Oil vs. Krill Oil: Which is Best for You?
This blog does not intend to provide diagnosis...
In this article:
- Similarities Between Fish and Krill Oil
- Sources of Fish vs. Krill Oil
- Is Eating Seafood a Good Alternative?
- Arthritis Benefits
- Vascular Health Benefits
- Inflammation Benefits
- Memory Benefits
- High Triglyceride Benefits
- Precautions
There is a lot of confusion concerning the difference between fish oil's and krill oil's health benefits. Is there a difference between the two? Is one more beneficial than the other?
Similarities Between Fish and Krill Oil
Both fish oil and krill oil contain omega-3 fatty acids, specifically docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). These essential fatty acids can help lower triglycerides and reduce pain and inflammation in those with arthritis.
- Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)is an omega-3 fatty acid that's a significant component of the human brain, skin, and eye. Although important, it is not considered "essential" since it can be manufactured in the body if acid (ALA) is consumed in the diet.
- Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; or icosapentaenoic acid) is commonly found in fish oil, krill oil, and eggs (assuming the chickens were fed EPA).
A 2016 study showed a similar elevation in blood levels of DHA/EPA when equivalent doses of fish oil and krill oil were given to test subjects over four weeks.
Sources of Fish vs. Krill Oil
Fish oil comes from fish. Commonly, commercial fish oil comes from tuna, herring, and sardines. When extracted, fish oil generally has a white or yellow color. It has low antioxidant properties, meaning it does not work well as an anti-oxidant. It is delivered to the body as a triacylglyceride (TAG) when consumed. Commercial-quality fish oil needs to go through additional purification processes to eliminate heavy metals that may be present.
Likewise, krill oil comes from krill, crustaceans harvested from the Antarctic area. Krill feed on phytoplankton and marine algae and are at the bottom of the food chain. As a result, in their natural habitat krill have little to no heavy metal exposure, so extra purification is not required.
A krill is a small, red, lobster-like creature found in the southern Atlantic Ocean. Krill oil is an essential fatty acid with a distinctive red color. It tends to be more expensive than fish oil. When consumed, it is delivered to the body in phospholipids.
Worldwide, krill tend to be more plentiful than fish, so in total, extracting adequate DHA/EPA from krill has more long-term sustainability potential than extracting these oils from fish.
Is Eating Seafood a Good Alternative?
One should get all their vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids from foods. This is what I advise my patients, but I know it's not always possible. The American Heart Association recommends regular fish consumption at least twice per week for heart health. For those who prefer vegetarian alternatives, consuming certain foods can be a good source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which can be converted into DHA. ALA can be found in flaxseed, walnuts, soy, chia seeds, and hemp seeds.
If relying solely on food, consumption of adequate DHA and EPA from animal sources can be a challenge due to the pollution of our oceans. For example, fish such as mackerel, swordfish, bass, shark, and tuna tend to have higher-than-average levels of mercury and should be eaten sparingly. Fish such as salmon, catfish, anchovies, sardines, herring, trout, and tilapia have lower levels of mercury, but the levels can add up if consumed more than two or three times per week.
Fish oil and krill oil can benefit the following common health conditions.
Arthritis Benefits
Osteoarthritis usually results from general wear and tear of the joints. It results from the destruction of cartilage, which acts as a cushion that covers the bone. Early signs of osteoarthritis may begin when an individual is around 40 years old and can progress as one ages. Symptoms include joint pain, swelling stiffens, and loss of joint function. Natural alternatives are sought by many to help with symptoms. Generally, doctors prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and indomethacin.
Fish Oil
Studies show essential fatty acids help improve joint pain and reduce the use of NSAIDs. Studies also show a reduction of joint stiffness when fish oil is taken daily at a minimum of 500 mg per day up to 2,000 mg per day.
Krill Oil
A 2007 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study showed that 300 mg of krill oil "significantly inhibits inflammation and reduces arthritic symptoms within a short treatment period of 7 and 14 days". A 2016 double-blind, placebo-controlled study of patients with mild knee pain demonstrated that krill oil could reduce pain at daily doses of 2,000 mg per day.
Vascular Health Benefits
Cardiovascular disease is a major killer of people all over the world. Various risk factors contribute to increased heart and vascular disease risk. Omega-3 fatty acids may be beneficial.
Fish Oil
Regular consumption of omega-3 fatty acids is important for heart and vascular health. A 2017 study showed it can help prevent atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, while a 2013 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association showed that higher levels of DHA/EPA in the blood were associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
Krill Oil
A 2015 study in the British Medical Journal concluded: "Krill oil may lead to moderate improvement of cardiovascular risks, specifically endothelial dysfunction and HDL in patients with type 2 diabetes." However, the benefits also apply to those who do not have diabetes. A 2017 study in Nutrition Reviews also showed that krill oil could benefit the heart by reducing bad (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides, both risk factors for heart disease when levels are elevated in the blood.
Inflammation Benefits
Inflammation results when there is an imbalance in the body—in a sense, the body is internally "on fire". When stressed, the body produces a steroid hormone called cortisol in excess. When cortisol is elevated, the body makes inflammatory chemicals called prostaglandins. Inflammation can also be evaluated by measuring C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the blood.
According to a 2017 study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, elevated levels of CRP increase the risk of cancer and heart disease. In 2008, the Jupiter study showed cholesterol-lowering statin drugs could reduce inflammation. Krill oil and fish oil may also play a role.
Fish oil
Fish oil is well known to help lower CRP levels. A 2016 study showed this as the case but also that krill oil was more efficient than 2,000 mg of fish oil. However, another 2016 study in the Journal of Internal Medicine showed that when 1,400 mg of fish oil was consumed, CRP level was not lowered. Based on this, I would recommend a dose of at least 2,000 mg of omega-3 fish oil twice daily to lower CRP levels.
Krill oil
A 2016 study showed that krill oil at a dose of 500 mg twice daily could help reduce CRP levels more than fish oil at a dose of 2,000 mg twice daily. A 2007 study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition demonstrated that krill oil at 300 mg daily could lower CRP levels by almost 20 percent.
Memory Benefits
As populations age, memory concerns become more common. Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, has no specific cure and can cause enormous frustration and challenges to patients and caretakers alike. Symptoms include forgetting names and confusion in the early stages, while late-stage Alzheimer's can give way to more severe issues, like paranoia and abusive behavior. Scientists predict that after 65, one in nine people are at risk. Natural treatments, such as turmeric and Boswellia, appear helpful with DHA and EPA.
Fish Oil
A 2016 study of 44 patients with memory issues was conducted in which 22 were given fish oil, while 22 were given a placebo. Researchers noted that memory was better in those given fish oil. Other studies have shown similar findings.
Krill Oil
A 2017 study in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences showed that krill oil could help reduce brain oxidative stress and beta-amyloid deposits, believed to be the cause of Alzheimer's disease. More research is currently underway.
High Triglyceride Benefits
Triglycerides are a type of fat that circulates in the blood. Ideal levels should measure less than 150 mg/dl (or less than 1.7 mmol/L). Elevated levels are a risk factor for heart attack and stroke. Lowering them by consuming a low-sugar, low-simple-carbohydrate diet can also be beneficial, but sometimes that is not enough. An EPA/DHA supplement can be considered.
Fish Oil
Pharmaceutical drug companies have allegedly realized the benefit of lowering triglycerides and have developed a pharmaceutical-grade fish oil. However, due to its high cost, many cannot afford it.
A 2016 Lipids in Health and Disease study concluded that omega-3 fatty acids are helpful in lowering triglycerides. Likewise, a 2017 meta-analysis study in Atherosclerosis, which studied 1,378 people, showed that consuming oily fish helped lower triglycerides while increasing HDL (good cholesterol) levels, two crucial biomarkers for cardiovascular disease.
Krill Oil
A 2014 study showed a 10-percent reduction in triglycerides in response to krill oil. A 2017 study in Nutrition Reviews of 662 patients showed similar results in those who consumed krill oil. Other studies have supported these findings.
Those with allergies to fish or shellfish should be cautious as they may have an allergic reaction. Consult with your physician prior if you have any questions.
Fish oil is available in liquid, capsules, and gummy formulations. Krill oil generally is available in capsule or soft gel formulations.
- Yurko-Mauro et al. Lipids in Health and Disease (2015) 14:99 DOI 10.1186/s12944-015-0109-z
- Arch Med Res. 2012 Jul;43(5):356-62. doi: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2012.06.011. Epub 2012 Jul 24.
- Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 2007 Feb;26(1):39-48.
- Suzuki Y, Fukushima M, Sakuraba K, Sawaki K, Sekigawa K. Krill oil Improves Mild Knee Joint Pain: A Randomized Control Trial. Gagnier JJ, ed. PLoS ONE. 2016;11(10):e0162769. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0162769.
- Yagi S, Fukuda D, Aihara KI, Akaike M, Shimabukuro M, Sata M. n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Promising Nutrients for Preventing Cardiovascular Disease. J Atheroscler Thromb. 2017;24(10):999–1010. doi:10.5551/jat.RV17013
- J Am Heart Assoc. 2013 Dec 18;2(6):e000506. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.113.000506.
- Lobraico JM, DiLello LC, Butler AD, Cordisco ME, Petrini JR, Ahmadi R. Effects of krill oil on endothelial function and other cardiovascular risk factors in participants with type 2 diabetes, a randomized controlled trial. BMJ Open Diabetes Res-Care. 2015;3(1):e000107. Published 2015 Oct 14. doi:10.1136/bmjdrc-2015-000107
- Nutr Rev. 2017 May 1;75(5):361-373. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuw063.
- Paul M Ridker, M.D., Eleanor Danielson, M.I.A., Francisco A.H. Fonseca, M.D.,et. Al * Rosuvastatin to Prevent Vascular Events in Men and Women with Elevated C-Reactive Protein N Engl J Med 2008; 359:2195-2207 November 20, 2008
- Journal of Internal Medicine. 2016 Jan;279(1):98-109. doi: 10.1111/joim.12442. Epub 2015 Oct 26.
- Arch Med Sci. 2016 Jun 1;12(3):507-12. doi: 10.5114/aoms.2016.59923. Epub 2016 May 18.
- J American College of Nutrition. 2007 Feb;26(1):39-48.
- Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Nov 28;18(12). pii: E2554. doi: 10.3390/ijms18122554.
- Lipids Health Dis. 2016 Jul 22;15(1):118. doi: 10.1186/s12944-016-0286-4.
- Atherosclerosis. 2017 Nov;266:87-94. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2017.09.028. Epub 2017 Sep 28.
- Nutrition Research. 2014 Feb;34(2):126-33. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2013.12.003. Epub 2013 Dec 18.
- Sorin Ursoniu, Amirhossein Sahebkar, Maria-Corina Serban, et. al. for the Lipid and Blood Pressure Meta-analysis Collaboration Group; Lipid-modifying effects of krill oil in humans: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, Nutrition Reviews, Volume 75, Issue 5, 1 May 2017, Pages 361–373


text:
Subscription Renew Form
Thank you for renewing your subscription to SBC Skier!
You will need your PIN number to renew your subscription.
All current subscribers have been sent an email with a PIN number included. You can also find your PIN number on the address label of your last issue.
If you did NOT receive a PIN number, please email Subscription Services.


text:
Worship Aids
Proper 19
17th Sunday After Pentecost
Jeremiah 4: 11-12, 22-28
Psalm 14
1 Timothy 1: 12-17
Luke 15: 1-10
O God who spoke of old in judgment, come now to this place we gather, this worship we share, and show us the error of our ways. Speak, through your Spirit, that we may turn and begin anew. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Pastor's Prayer
We come, today, O Lord, to acknowledge our sin, our failures as a congregation and as individuals. You know our misdeeds of thought, word, and deed. Too often we have thought of war when your way is peace. We find ourselves more prone to shortness with friends, family and stranger when there was a need of understanding and a word of sympathy. You are aware that we, too often, have done what we should not have done and not done what we should.
Visit your Spirit upon us today that we may see as you see, that we may see ourselves in need of your forgiveness, that we may see our neighbor as your child, that we may see those different that we as evidence of the diversity of your creation, that we may recognize our sin.
And cause, O Lord, the recognition of our misdeeds to be the beginning of our acceptance of your forgiveness, your amazing grace, that we may acknowledge fully that, despite our sin, you love us so much you sent your son to seek us out like a shepherd a lost sheep, and, having found us, to sit down with us at the table.
In his name we confess our sin, accept your grace, and sing our praise. Amen.
A Great Thanksgiving for the Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, creator of heaven and earth. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away and made waste of your creation you remained our God. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. He came to us and sat at table with sinners showing us the depth of the love you have for us all.
By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection, you gave birth to your church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.
On the night in which he gave himself up for us he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said, "Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me."
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us, gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood, that we may be not be lost.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at the heavenly banquet.
Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.
Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. The bread which we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.
The cup over which we give thanks is a sharing in the blood of Christ.
[Giving of the Bread and Cup]
Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself for us. Like the shepherd's lost sheep and the widow's lost coin, we, too, have been lost. But now we are found. Help us go forth from here to tell others that you came looking for us, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


text:
Injectable Body Sensors Take Personal Chemistry to a Cell Phone Closer to Reality
19 Mar, 2018, 05:00 ET
NEW ORLEANS, March 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Up until now, local inflammation and scar tissue from the so-called "foreign body response" has prevented the development of in-body sensors capable of continuous, long-term monitoring of body chemistry. But today scientists are presenting results showing tiny biosensors that become one with the body have overcome this barrier, and stream data to a mobile phone and to the cloud for personal and medical use.
"While fitness trackers and other wearables provide insights into our heart rate, respiration and other physical measures, they don't provide information on the most important aspect of our health: our body's chemistry," explained Natalie Wisniewski, Ph.D. "Based on our ongoing studies, tissue-integrated sensor technology has the potential to enable wearables to live up to the promise of personalized medicine, revolutionizing the management of health in wellness and disease." Dr. Wisniewski, who leads the team of biosensor developers, is the chief technology officer and co-founder of Profusa Inc., a San Francisco Bay Area-based life science company.
The researchers are presenting their results today at the 255th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS, the world's largest scientific society, is holding the meeting here through Thursday. It features more than 13,000 presentations on a wide range of science topics.
Overcoming the Foreign Body Response
Conventional sensors, such as those found in continuous glucose monitors, have a sensing electrode wire that penetrates the skin to measure a target chemical in the fluid that surrounds cells. But because the body "sees" the electrode as foreign material, it needs to be removed and replaced within several days at a different location to avoid the effects of inflammation and scar tissue that eventually prevents the electrode from functioning accurately.
The team at Profusa is developing a family of tiny biosensors composed of a tissue-like hydrogel, similar to a soft contact lens, that are painlessly placed under the skin with a single injection. Rather than being isolated from the body, the biosensors work fully integrated within the body's tissue — without any metal device or electronics, thereby overcoming the body's attempts to reject it. To date, the injected biosensors have functioned for as long as four years.
Smaller than a grain of rice, each biosensor is a flexible fiber about 5 mm long and half a millimeter wide, comprised of a porous scaffold that induces capillary and cellular ingrowth from surrounding tissue. The hydrogel is linked to light-emitting fluorescent molecules that continuously signal in proportion to the concentration of a body chemical, such as oxygen, glucose, or other biomolecule of interest.
Adhered to the skin's surface or held by hand, a separate optical reader is used to read the fluorescent signal from the embedded biosensor. The reader sends excitation signals through the skin to the biosensor, which then emits fluorescent light in response to the biomolecule present. The data is relayed to a smart phone for an encrypted personal record and historical tracking. Data can be shared securely via digital networks with healthcare providers.
The Lumee™ Oxygen Platform, the first medical application of the biosensor technology, was approved for sale last year in Europe, and is helping wound-healing specialists track oxygen in the lower extremities of patients undergoing treatment for chronic limb ischemia. The device is aimed at avoiding amputations by providing information to caregivers about declining oxygen levels in a patient's limb. In addition to measuring oxygen, Dr. Wisniewski and her colleagues at Profusa are developing biosensors for continuous monitoring of glucose, lactate, carbon dioxide, and other molecules, toward broadening their biosensor applications in health and disease.
About Profusa Inc.
Profusa is leading the development of bioengineered sensors that become one with the body to detect and continuously transmit actionable, medical-grade data of body chemistry for personal and medical use. Overcoming the foreign-body response to implantable monitoring for long-term use, its tissue-integrated biosensors open the door to accessing, connecting and applying body chemistry in unprecedented ways, transforming the management of personal health and disease.
Profusa's Lumee™ Oxygen Platform is CE Marked for sale in the EU for monitoring tissue-oxygen perfusion in the clinical management of peripheral artery disease and chronic wounds. In the U.S., the Lumee is an Investigational Device limited by U.S. law to Investigational Use. Profusa Inc. is a privately held company based in South San Francisco, Calif. See http://www.profusa.com for more information.
The research is based upon work supported by DARPA, the Biological Technologies Office (BTO), and ARO grant [W911NF-16-1-0341]. The views and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or endorsements, either expressed or implied, of DARPA, BTO, the ARO, or the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for Governmental purposes notwithstanding any copyright annotation thereon.
Research reported in this press release is supported by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01 EB016414. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
SOURCE Profusa, Inc.


text:
Office Building Security Guards in South Boston, MA
We are a locally owned and operated professional security guard and patrol company based in Acton, MA. We proudly service South Boston all of Massachusetts. Our management team brings over 100 years of combined military, law enforcement, and security experience to bear for our clients. Our guards are highly trained and vetted so that our clients can rest easy knowing that they are receiving the best security guard service available. We have armed and unarmed options available as well as an ability to provide vehicle patrols to your site. Our guards are customer service oriented and are able to blend into any environment. We service office buildings, manufacturing sites, warehouses, storage facilities, retail locations, laboratories, rail yard sites, and more. Our guards can conduct site patrols, perform access control, man a gatehouse, and perform Firewatch duties. They provide an excellent visual deterrent and observe and report function. We utilize guard tracking software to monitor patrol routes and document incidents for our clients and have the ability to provide daily reports as requested. We customize our services to meet the needs of our clients. Trust only the best to protect what matters most. Trust Strongbox! Call us now to discuss how we can best serve your needs.


text:
Steven Swerling has announced WxMorphic v.0.01alpha. You can get the code from his website.
Monday, March 14, 2005
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Traits beta 2.1
Adrian Lienhard has announced a new version of Traits (beta 2.1) for Squeak. You can download it from SqueakMap. There is also a predefined image (12.5 MB).
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
OBJ Importer for Croquet
There is an OBJ importer available for Croquet. Read more here and here or download it from SqueakMap.
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
Dome being hoisted into position.
RASC Hamilton Centre 1979_08
Scanned by Colin Haig 2006-03-23 to 2006-04-03
Scanned with Nikon Coolscan V ED.
These slides had a date on the slide mount, 1979 08, for the Marsh building construction at the Hamilton Centre Observatory.
Not sure when actually taken or when developed. Abbreviations: LVP - Leslie V. Powis, the likely photographer based on initials on the slide mounts.


text:
And Winner Is . . .We had almost 400 entries to win Lauren Rennells's Retro Makeup! The prize goes to Jenni, who commented on March 14th at 3:56 am. (I hope you're in a really far away time zone, Jenni. Otherwise, you need to get more beauty sleep!) HRST Books will contact you to send the book. Thanks so much for the giveaway, Lauren and HRST!
Men!Secondly, are you a man? Are you a man who sews as a hobby? Or do you know someone of that persuasion? The Sewing Bee is casting right now and they're specifically looking for more menfolk.
Sewing and Gender Diversity
I think there's an interesting blog post to be written here. I mean, the reason they're having trouble finding men is that there aren't that many men who sew as a hobby! And if they do, there's a good chance they might not want the whole world to know. Sewing is a traditionally female activity, and therefore hasn't been given a lot of respect in the past. While I'd rather see women making up the majority of the contestants (and I'm sure they will), I also want some diversity represented.
(Also, it's fun to watch the women kick the men's butts on The Great British Sewing Bee. I just started season 2, and the men are so out of their league!)
What do you think? Are you keen to have men well-represented on The Sewing Bee--more so than they make up the sewing population in general? Or do you think the show's contestants should represent the sewing population as it is?


text:
Back in November, InfoWorld reported on Quest Software's acquisition of VKernel, a competitor that, like Quest, provided a suite of management products for virtualized data centers and cloud environments. At the time, the official announcement provided very little information about the acquisition itself, let alone any product road map discussions. However, VKernel representatives came forward to say it would be business as usual for VKernel after the acquisition, except the company would have the full backing of its now much larger parent company, Quest.
But after initially hearing the news of the acquisition, one of the questions that immediately came to mind was what would Quest do with two competing virtualization management solutions. Today, nearly four months later, it looks as though that question has finally been answered.
[ Also on InfoWorld: Veeam, SolarWinds add Hyper-V support to virtualization management. | VMware offers a new free fling which provides capacity planning and community benchmarking | Keep up on virtualization by signing up for InfoWorld's Virtualization newsletter. ]
VKernel, now a subsidiary of Quest Software, announced the expansion of its vOperations Suite (vOPS). This latest version of vOPS will now include products from its parent company such as Quest vFoglight, vFoglight Storage, and vOptimizer. This new combination will provide a single solution for VM administrators to manage all infrastructure areas related to their virtualized data centers and cloud environments.
Specifically, the unified vOperations Suite will now extend monitoring capabilities to:
- The storage area network (SAN)
- The guest OS inside a VMware or Hyper-V virtual machine
- Physical servers that have not been virtualized
- Application-level monitoring
The new suite is built around two product lines: vOperations Server and vOperations Storage.
vOperations Server is offered in three editions: The free version called Explorer provides basic monitoring of a virtualized environment with regards to performance, capacity, or efficiency issues of VMs, hosts, and datastores. A Standard edition provides remediation of those issues, as well as virtual server performance analysis, capacity management, optimization, and chargeback. Beyond those features offered in the Standard edition, an Enterprise edition adds near real-time application monitoring, as well as monitoring of the guest OS and the physical servers. Standard is priced at $549 per socket and Enterprise is $799 per socket.
vOperations Storage offers two editions: Monitor, designed for administrators needing deep visibility into the SAN, visualizes the topology from VM to disk, highlights where issues are present and the root causes to the problems; and vOptimizer, which helps remediate storage issues through automation capabilities. Monitor is priced at $499 per socket, while vOptimizer is $299 per socket.
"Virtualization administrators have long searched for a data center management system to gain visibility across the many layers that make up a virtualized environment: from storage array to guest OS," said Bryan Semple, chief marketing officer at VKernel. "Previous attempts to gain this holistic visibility have either required multiple vendors, or have involved complex large-scale management platforms that are time consuming and not cost efficient."