Keeping My Gut in Check

From Wes:

Today during my daily perusing of Latin American news I stumbled upon this embittering article on Yahoo News.

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay - One of South America's smallest countries proved on Sunday it can hold the biggest barbecue in the world.

Some 1,250 Uruguayan grillmeisters sizzled up 26,400 pounds (12,000 kilograms) of beef Sunday, beating a 2006 record set in Mexico.

"It's all so beautiful. It's a record," Guinness World Records judge Danny Girton said after the chefs, in white hats and aprons, smoked and barbecued their way into the record book with help of 6 tons of charcoal and 1,500 metal barbecue stands.

The barbecue was so big that firefighters were called in to light the grills and make sure the flames did not get out of hand. It beat the previous record of 17,600 pounds (8,000 kilograms) of beef, Girton said.

Uruguay, a ranching and farming nation, last year exported more than US$1 billion (euro630 million) in beef — its chief export.

The load of meat cooked Sunday set off swirling clouds of aromatic smoke, as 20,000 spectators devoured the cuts quickly.



Why would an article on the world’s largest barbecue embitter someone? Well it’s not because I am an animal rights activist (nor do I believe in animal cruelty) or because I have been debating on whether or not to become a vegetarian (nor is this a knock on you Dee, only coincidental).

Well, truth be told, I’m dieting. It’s no easy confession since during my younger days I held this notion that my high metabolism and regular activity would be enough to maintain this handsome physique forever. Well the metabolism is evidently slowing and the activity is becoming less regular, but my appetite is as steady as ever.

So yesterday I kicked of this diet that begins itself with a nine day first phase which allows only fruits and vegetables to be ingested. It was the imagining of the succulent aroma of that massive barbecue, the wafting scent of the mouth watering grilled beef . . . and mounds of it, that’s what made me a bit bitter.

Considering it is day two of nine I might need your prayers in the coming days.

Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Aston Villa

Check out this masterful goal by Cristiano as he flicks this bouncing deflected cross off the heel and through the legs of the Villa defender and into the back of the net.

The last angle shows most clearly what took place.

Enjoy.

-Wes

Faith and Medicine

The following story appeared in Yahoo News.

Police are investigating an 11-year-old girl's death from an undiagnosed, treatable form of diabetes after her parents chose to pray for her rather than take her to a doctor.

An autopsy showed Madeline Neumann died Sunday of diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition that left too little insulin in her body, Everest Metro Police Chief Dan Vergin said.

She had probably been ill for about a month, suffering symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst, loss of appetite and weakness, the chief said Wednesday, noting that he expects to complete the investigation by Friday and forward the results to the district attorney.

The girl's mother, Leilani Neumann, said that she and her family believe in the Bible and that healing comes from God, but that they do not belong to an organized religion or faith, are not fanatics and have nothing against doctors.

She insisted her youngest child, a wiry girl known to wear her straight brown hair in a ponytail, was in good health until recently.

"We just noticed a tiredness within the past two weeks," she said Wednesday. "And then just the day before and that day (she died), it suddenly just went to a more serious situation. We stayed fast in prayer then. We believed that she would recover. We saw signs that to us, it looked like she was recovering."

Her daughter — who hadn't seen a doctor since she got some shots as a 3-year-old, according to Vergin — had no fever and there was warmth in her body, she said.

The girl's father, Dale Neumann, a former police officer, said he started CPR "as soon as the breath of life left" his daughter's body.

Family members elsewhere called authorities to seek help for the girl.

"My sister-in-law, she's very religious, she believes in faith instead of doctors ...," the girl's aunt told a sheriff's dispatcher Sunday afternoon in a call from California. "And she called my mother-in-law today ... and she explained to us that she believes her daughter's in a coma now and she's relying on faith."

The dispatcher got more information from the caller and asked whether an ambulance should be sent.

"Please," the woman replied. "I mean, she's refusing. She's going to fight it. ... We've been trying to get her to take her to the hospital for a week, a few days now."

The aunt called back with more information on the family's location, emergency logs show. Family friends also made a 911 call from the home. Police and paramedics arrived within minutes and immediately called for an ambulance that took her to a hospital.

But less than an hour after authorities reached the home, Madeline — a bright student who left public school for home schooling this semester — was declared dead.

She is survived by her parents and three older siblings.

"We are remaining strong for our children," Leilani Neumann said. "Only our faith in God is giving us strength at this time."

The Neumanns said they moved from California to a modern, middle-class home in woodsy Weston, just outside Wassau in central Wisconsin, about two years ago to open a coffee shop and be closer to other relatives. A basketball hoop is set up in the driveway.

Leilani Neumann said she and her husband are not worried about the investigation because "our lives are in God's hands. We know we did not do anything criminal. We know we did the best for our daughter we knew how to do."


I am sadened by this tragic story. My heart is burdened for the families and loved ones that knew this sweet child.

The story leaves me wondering some tough questions about faith and medicine.

Are they enemies? Which do we put our trust in? And can they work together?

What are your sentiments on this story, the parent's decision, and the relationship between faith and medicine?

David Beckham

A couple of weeks ago I had the absolute pleasure of watching David Beckham play. Some friends and I had the opportunity to catch the game in Frisco as FC Dallas faced off against the LA Galaxy (Beckham's team) in a charity game.

This was more than just a preseason game for Beckham though. As some of you may know he has faced a lot of adversity in the sport in recent years. Last season when he joined the Galaxy he played very little due to injuries. As international friendlies, World Cup qualifies, and Euro 2008 picked up it appeared that Beckham's time with England's national team might have expired.

Frank Capello, England's new coach, who is very familiar with Beckham's abilities after their time together at Real Madrid, was hesitant to call him up since he has been in offseason with the Galaxy while most of the leagues elsewhere in the world are in full swing.

With preseason games like the charity event in Frisco picking up it was time for Capello to see just exactly what kind of form Beckham was in.

Capello must have been as pleased as we were with Beckham's abilities and fitness because last night in France, Beckham started for his 100th Cap with England.

It's More Than Just a Good Idea

My father-in-law gave me this book for my birthday and it is really hitting home. I am realizing that I am more of a visionary than I thought. I am only six chapters in but already it is worth the read.

Here’s a few simple things that have made a big impact in me:

*Most if not all biblical visionaries experienced a “desert” period in pursuit of their vision. We are in Abilene!

*The wait refines the vision and the visionary. I guess that’s why it hurts sometimes.

*To focus on the “how” (how things will come together) of the vision instead of the “giver” of the vision would be counterproductive.

-Wes