ITEMS of INTEREST

Looking in the mirror—or in our hearts?

"Oscar wilde's classic, The Picture of Dorian Gray, tells the fascinating tale of a beautiful young man, Dorian Gray, who sells his soul for the opportunity to remain forever young. Instead of growing old, a painted portrait of him ages instead! Suffice to say Dorian Gray discovers that eternal youth is not all one might have thought it would be.

"It is a fantastic commentary on the futility of giving attention only to cosmetic appearance. As Dorian finds out, it is what is on the inside that really counts in the long run. I have an idea that God said something similar in I Samuel 16:7. 'Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'

"As we begin a new week, Dorian Gray may just inspire us to think carefully about what we give our attention to as we build our spiritual lives. I am willing to bet that if we spent as much time on heart matters as we did on cosmetic issues in our lives and churches, we'd see a transformed body of Christ. Eternal youth cannot compare to eternal life!"

Alister McBride
Let us pray—they're speaking our language;
The Lord looks at the heart"
Waikato Times
©2004 The Waikato Times, INL (New Zealand)
August 23, 2004

PRAYER TOPS LIST OF MOST COMMONLY USED ALTERNATIVES TO TRADITIONAL MEDICAL TREATMENT

"More than one-third of all US adults use complementary and alternative medicine—62 percent when megavitamins and prayer specifically for health reasons are included in the definition—according to a giant new government survey.

"CAM is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not considered part of conventional medicine as practiced by physicians holding M.D. or D.O. degrees or the physical therapists, psychologists, nurses, and dietitians who work with them, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a component of the National Institutes of Health. The NIH and the National Center for Health Statistics took the survey to find out how many of us are using CAM, what therapies we are using most, and for what health problems and concerns. ...

"Most adults who have ever used CAM have used it in the last 12 months, and prayer is by far the most common form of complementary medicine. [Of] the 10 most often used forms of CAM [the top two are]: prayer for one's own health—43 percent, and prayer by others for one's health—24.4 percent."

Carolyn Poirot
"Healthy living:
Americans turning to complementary and alternative medicine"
©2004 Knight Ridder/Tribune Media Services
Reprinted with permission
August 24, 2004

SURVEY REPORTS MAJORITY OF RUSSIANS BELIEVE IN GOD

"The overwhelming majority of Russians believe in God while less than half of the population believe in the devil, according to a survey on religious belief in Russia published by Noviye Izvestia.

"The survey by VTslOM Research Institute among 1,600 Russians from 39 different regions showed that 73 percent of the respondents believed in the existence of God [and] ... even fewer Russians, only 44 percent, believe in the existence of hell and the devil."

"Russia: Majority believe in God"
ANSA English Media Service
Reprinted with permission of Lexis Nexis
August 16, 2004

British National Health Service now includes appointed chaplains

"At the end of last July, the National Health Service introduced a reform which barely attracted any press attention, but which the Department of Health believes could have an important impact on the way that healthcare is delivered. A chaplain has been appointed to each of the four regions of England. The move is part of an initiative to bring hospital chaplaincy up to date and to make spirituality an integral part of the health service. ...

"The chaplaincy service currently employs about 425 full-time chaplains, almost all of them members of the Church of England. There are only ten Roman Catholic chaplains and three Muslim ones. In addition, there are roughly 3,500 part-time and 10,500 volunteer chaplains from various religious groups.

"The role of the chaplain traditionally entails visiting patients in wards to offer pastoral care. If a patient wants a prayer book, spiritual guidance, or a quiet area for prayer, the chaplain is designated to help to provide these services. ...

"Chaplains will not proselytise. 'We're not allowed to do that. Chaplaincy is about support,' says [The Rev. Susan] Hollins [one of four lead chaplains]. 'If (patients) want me to put them in touch with a sympathetic local church, I will do so, but I'm not here to get converts.' However, she does admit that chaplaincy is often a 'good advertisement for Christianity.'"

Jack Shamash
"Spiritual aid in sickness and in health"
The Times (London) August 7, 2004