Monday, March 09, 2009

Step Back Disguised as Step Forward

As has been declared from the White House just this morning, federal money will now go into the scientific research community for the purpose of making advances in stem cell therapies and cures. How do you feel about your money going into the coffers of the federal government and then being funneled into the wallets of universities and companies killing human embryos in the name of science? Though I was not suprised based on the comments President Obama made during his campaign, I was disappointed to see that he did follow through on those specific comments surrounding the reversal of the Bush administration's restrictions on stem cell research. As a citizen of the United States, or an advocate of the integrity of human life, you should care.... and care enough to be informed. The following is a link to an article written today by Al Mohler, President of Southern Theological Seminary and a highly respected theologian within the Evangelical community. Take a look when you get a chance...
http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=3393

Monday, March 02, 2009

Let Me Toss Out a Question

The following is a snippet of an entry from the blog of Al Mohler, president of Southern Theological Seminary. Take a second to peruse what he says, and then....I have a question or two for you.

The real problem with Barbie is the one often cited by feminists, but they see only the surface dimensions of the issue. Without doubt, Barbie represents the objectification and commodification of an exaggerated vision of female beauty. She is everything many feminists charge, and they are probably right in seeing Barbie as a problem for many girls. They want to look like Barbie and emulate her fictional lifestyle (also projected by Mattel through advertising and the marketing of accessories.)
As some feminists complain, few girls will grow up to look like Barbie. As a matter of fact no girls will grow up to look like Barbie. Her exaggerated features are just not within the human range of proportion.
Conservative Christians have been rightly concerned about Barbie's in-your-face sexuality. Her immodest dress and romanticized patterns of presentation leave little room for the imagination.
But the most basic problem with Barbie is the fact that she lies. Constantly. The entire Barbie package presents one huge lie about the nature of true beauty. According to the Christian worldview, beauty and truth and goodness are identical. A lie cannot be beautiful and the truth is never ugly. Barbie's total presentation represents a lie about feminine beauty, suggesting in not-too-subtle ways that external attractiveness (even artificial attractiveness) is the foundation of true beauty.
But, according to the biblical worldview, genuine beauty is found within -- in the being and character of a person -- not in their external appearance. The first principle of human beauty is the fact that every human being, male and female, is made in God's image. No one made in God's image can be anything less than beautiful. Nevertheless, one of the signs and consequences of the Fall is that we are all too confused about true beauty. We are too easily bought off with the "pretty" at the expense of the beautiful. Furthermore, our notions of the "pretty" are themselves evidence of the Fall.
The second principle of the biblical worldview concerning beauty is that it is a function of the person's character, not external appearance. Some of the most beautiful people ever to have walked the planet have fallen far short of prevailing standards of prettiness. Conversely, many of the people who have been most pretty in popular perception have been devoid of demonstrated moral character and spiritual graces.
Barbie turns fifty this month, but she doesn't show it. Meanwhile, the girls who first played with Barbie dolls are now over fifty themselves. Millions of them have grown up to be women of virtue and character, raising families and serving others. By now, many show some signs of aging and the passage of time. Yet, in their faces and lives we see far more beauty than Barbie has ever been able to muster -- then or now.
So, Barbara Millicent Roberts is turning fifty. I won't expect an invitation to her big party.

Though I haven't had the opportunity to experience the blessing of being a mother, I have wondered at various times how I would teach my daughter the true nature of beauty that woman can possess, and should possess. I firmly believe that it is best impressed upon a girl's heart by a life that emulates it consistently (though not perfectly) and with humility, and the power of the Word spoken into her life. Women need to talk about these things with their daughters and give them an opportunity to think through these things in an avenue of thought that is not just the one that the world wants them to travel down regarding this issue. It is such a big deal for women, and one that we, in many ways, have to tackle every single day. What Truth about beauty are we going to believe?

So, my questions are: What do you believe is the biggest influence upon girl's perceptions of beauty today? Why?

Do you have a plan in mind as to how you will approach this subject with your daughter(s)? Or, if you have boys, do you intend to try and help them see where true beauty lies?

When you picture a woman who is the essence of true beauty, what is it about her that impresses you that way?

For some, this may seem a bit frivolous or unnecessary, but it's just a chance to dialogue, and I enjoy getting others' perspectives. I'll chirp in with my answers at some point in time as well. Just thought I'd throw the questions out for starters. And no....I don't have a vendetta against Barbie (though I must comment that I was a bit disappointed one Christmas when my mom bought me the off-brand Barbie; was that somehow supposed to be more 'sanctified'?).


Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Kentucky or Bust #2

Kentucky at last!!! I spent this past weekend hanging out with my brother and sister-in-law, Ben and Kelly, and my nephew, Owen, in Louisville, KY. Thanks for letting me invade! I had a great time, even though Kentucky weather did not behave for me; I traveled South to escape the Michigan cold and ended up wearing my winter coat and mittens the entire time anyways.

Ben and Kelly: they delivered the news to me that there is to be a new addition to their family in September of this year. How could I not be excited???!!!! Yep, I'm going to be an Aunt once again. Though Ben's arm is covering the logo, I just wanted to clarify that yes, Kelly is once again wearing her Crush shirt in a blog photo....some things just never change. But to those of you who fear that she threw the shirt out, be reassured....its legacy lives on.
My O-bug!!! The sweetest, smartest, cutest, and funniest 1 yr. old around....hands down! I love that little guy, and he loves.....well, he loves carrying around water bottles, as you can see in the pic below.
After church on Sunday, we picked up groceries at Sam's club. Owen is a total Daddy's Boy-- that kid's face lights up and he squeals every time Ben is gone and returns home. I'd like to say Ben is just as excited, but I must clarify that, unlike Owen, he doesn't squeal. He's a great daddy, and I'm proud of what a great job he is doing with my O-bug. Here they are trying out the leather furniture at Sam's Club.

Bath time!! I got to Louisville shortly before it was Owen's bath time, so we got to try out the new bath bubbles that Grandma sent down with me. We had fun playing with the toys and making lots of noise.

Supper at Qdoba's. Owen and I decided to sport the winter wear via our hats. Owen's, of course, is way cooler because he is sporting his U of M colors. Notice, though, that his hands are full. He has full ownership of the sippy cup and snack cup, and nobody...and I mean Nobody...can get away with confiscating it for very long.

Such a sweet little boy. He still loves that thumb.

I spent some time with Kelly at her workplace ( which is a private home where she has a babysitting job) on Monday morning. Ben stopped by at lunchtime,shortly before I headed back for Michigan. As I left the house to travel North, my little guy waved good-bye from the doorway. How could I not smile at that cute guy?? He does say my name, but it comes out more like "Sza-Sza".

Aunt Sarah loves you Owen!!!! You're such a good boy! Thanks for a fun weekend.






Kentucky or Bust--#1

This past weekend was an all-around "family trip". It was a planned trip to Louisville, KY, but it was taken with a slight detour through Western Michigan. I got to see lots of family, though, in a very condensed period of time, and it was in my estimation a great trip.

Thurs Night: Here is Drew in action, doing what he loves best: coaching basketball. He's a great coach to the 9th-grade team of boys at Birch Run High School. He came away with a "W." Holland, MI: MJ (Michael) had a basketball game in Grand Rapids, so I caught his game against Kuyper College on Friday night, stayed overnight at my Grandma and Aunt's home in Holland, MI and headed off to Louisville on Sat. morning. Here's an early morning photo with my 2 favorite younger brothers-- in all their morning glory-- both radiating a happiness to be alive and ready to go at 8am on a Saturday morn.
My favorite guy on the court: #40 Michael Glupker. Amazingly enough, though he plays for a school in Wisconsin, he sported the Wolverine colors of maize and blue. Clearly, someone in WI has good taste.

The fans in the stands!!! Back row: Mom, Aunt Marty, Uncle Jim, and cousin Jeff.
Front row: Drew and Amanda, Aunt Judy, my Dad.





Work in Progress

Several friends and family members have asked how my dining room project is going. The answer is: it's going, slowly-but-surely. Below is a picture of some work in progress. My brother, Drew, and my friend, Chris Luter, came over one Saturday afternoon and spent a few hours nailing down the cement board in preparation for the ceramic tile I plan on having placed on the floor. It was nice to see some something get done that I could not do on my own!!




This is me, happy to see the job was finished. Thanks so much to you both for being willing to give up your time to help me out. It was VERY much appreciated. Tile and trim are the only things left on my agenda for the dining room. Excited to see the end results!








Glupker Christmas 2008

Grandma Glupker and her 4 kids: Jim,John, Jack, & Judy. Can you guess which one is my father, the Engineer? Yep, you guessed it: the guy with the paper and pens sticking out of his pocket. That's classic John Glupker in photo.
Doing what we always do when we get together: play card games!


Dec. 2008. Glupker Family Christmas at Immanuel Bible Church.


Yes, some more pics that have been retrieved from down deep in the digital storehouse of my camera. I suppose I could've bypassed posting at this point in time, but I thought it would be fun to share some pictures with my family at least.


A photo of me with my siblings and their spouses, as well as 3 of my cousins (my Uncle Jack's kids: Katie, Kelly, and Jeff).




The boys loved having the readily-accessible gym for a free-throw contest.


My cousin Kelly and her boyfriend, Andy, bought my Dad a perfect gift for Christmas: A new Bingo dispenser. Was my Dad ever geeked about that! It was perfect for him, since he is the Bingo announcer when we play our annual game at Christmas. Pictured with my Dad are his older brother, Jim, and my Grandma Glupker.



The Bingo gift table. A pile of under-$5 gifts, labeled as male/female/neutral, ready to be picked out randomly by the Bingo winners.









Lovin to be UP North, October 2008

November 2008. After suffering a slight disappointment with the results of the presidential election, I decided I needed a trip to the UP!! Disappointment aside, it was time for me to visit my grandparents in Houghton, MI, as well as my Uncle Mike, Aunt Karen, and cousin Blake. I always have a great time and wish they all lived within closer proximity to me, rather than the slightly lengthy jaunt of about 500 miles. These pics have been hiding out in my camera for a few months and I decided that it was high time they came out of seclusion.


Grandma Patterson, me, Uncle Mike, Aunt Karen, and Blake. My grandparents are both nature lovers, and their house bears evidence to this in various ways; I just happened to catch a picture of one of these evidences-- to the right, you'll see my Grandma's collection of bird figurines. If you're lucky enough, you'll be in their house at the top-o'-the hour to hear their bird clock "chirp" with one of the 12 different bird songs it chimes out.


Here we are playing Blake's most recent favorite board game: Clue. I hadn't played it for years, but it was a lot of fun! Grandma was hilarious because she wasn't real interested in figuring out all of the details surrounding the unsolved mystery, so her gamepiece resided in the Hallway the entire length of the game....and she still had fun. Who won?? Hmmm....I told you I had a lot of fun playing the game....

Gramps, Gran, and I took a day to tour the Eastern side of the Keweenaw peninsula, going through Bete Grise and up to the very Northern tip through the town of Copper Harbor. On our way back to Houghton, we stopped and had dinner at my Uncle's old restaurant, the Hut Inn. It's a unique looking building, but very cool inside and still serves some good food. It was fun to go back.


My Favorite Veteran: Robert D. Patterson. I didn't realize it until this visit, but Grandpa puts out the American flag every Veterans Day. This year, though, I got to take a picture of him doing so. He's working on making a verbal record of his WWII experiences to send in to the National Archives in Washington, D.C.



The Old House: my Grandparents' home-away-from Home. It resides close to the town of Eagle Harbor, and its interior is still in circa-1930's motif. No running water, an attached outhouse, wood-burning stove, etc. But it is surrounded by acres of land to hike and explore, as well as a garden they've scratched out by hand (the terrain is very rocky), and it is away from the city life. I have many fond memories of this place and always will.




Me and Gramps. He's the best!! I never have a visit with him without laughing like crazy.....and the same goes for him. We both get a little crazy and drive my Grandma nuts!





A stimulating game of Darts played with my cousin Blake. Yep, it took place in my Grandparent's living room. Where else?






A beautiful Fall day overlooking the waters of Lake Superior as seen here in Eagle Harbor. My siblings and I spent many happy Summer days playing on this beach and swimming in this harbor, and eating at the Shore Line restaurant. It's always great to come back and visit.
For anyone interested in traveling to this area, make sure you hit the Brockway Mountain Drive: it is absolutely gorgeous in the Fall.






Monday, February 09, 2009

Aesop's Foolish Dog & Where My Gain Lies

"A dog was crossing a plank bridge over a stream with a piece of meat in his mouth, when he happened to see his own reflection in the water. He thought it was another dog with a piece of meat twice as big; so he let go his own, and flew at the other dog to get the other piece. But, of course, all that happened was that he got neither; for one was only a reflection, and the other was carried away by the current."

-- 'The Dog and His Reflection'
from Aesop's Fables

"But godliness with contentment is great gain..." (I Timothy 6:6)

Thursday, November 13, 2008

World Diabetes Day


NOVEMBER 14TH, 2008--- WORLD DIABETES DAY (WDD)
World Diabetes Day is the primary global awareness campaign for the diabetes
world. It started in 1991 as a result of the work of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to the alarming rise globally of the prevalence of diabetes. The theme of 2007-2008 for WDD is "Diabetes in Children and Adolescents." Each year, there are roughly 70,000 kids who are diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (200 children per day). The presence of Type 2 diabetes, once thought to be found only in adults, is now pervading a large percentage of children and adolescents as well.
Two areas of focus that have risen out of this year's WDD theme are as follows:
(1) Knowing and recognizing the signs and symptoms of diabetes in children.
(2) Teaching and encouraging healthy lifestyle habits that will decrease the likelihood of the development of Type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents.
How informed are you regarding diabetes? It is a serious, chronic disease that is currently labeled as a 'pandemic' in the developed and developing world.
Take a few minutes to browse through the links listed below and become increasingly aware of this very important health issue.

Monday, November 03, 2008

Vote NO on Proposal 2

The heated race for the White House is on the last leg of the journey, and it has been an interesting partisan marathon for the past several months. While some may argue that the same old 'politics as usual' will end up being what shapes the political landscapes in both Washington, D.C. and Lansing, MI, there are other issues that will be on your ballot that are devoid of partisanship, yet have the ability to affect many within the state of Michigan.
Are you familiar with the two ballot proposals that you have the opportunity to cast a vote upon on Tuesday, Nov. 4th? Proposal 1 deals with the issue of the legalization of marijuana within the state of Michigan. I have an opinion on that matter, but that is not why I'm writing this post. I'd like to direct your attention to Proposal 2. What is Proposal 2 about? It will be displayed on your ballot as follows: "A proposal to amend the state constitution to address Human embryo and Human embryonic stem cell research in Michigan." Perhaps you've already seen the commercials from both the proponent and opponent sides of this proposal. Why should you even care? Why is there any debate at all? What is at stake with this proposal? Well... can I borrow a few minutes of your time and try as succintly (insomuch as one such as I can be) to highlight a few key components regarding this amendment? Good. Glad you'll stick around for a few minutes and be willing to think some things through. To preface my thoughts and observations and opinions, and to unabashedly lay out for you, the reader, what side of the proverbial 'fence' I am standing on, I will clearly state that I am a strong opponent of the passage of Proposal 2. In a few moments, I hope I will at least clearly define why I've taken that position and furthermore hope to urge you (would 'persuade' be a more appropriate term?) to join me on this side of the 'fence'....why else would I be compelled to write?
First of all, understand that this is not just the simple passage of a state law. This is an amendment to the State Constitution. I've heard the importance of this type of legislation at the state level compared to, at the federal level, a change in the Bill of Rights. Simply stated: a Constitutional amendment is a BIG deal. So I ask: Do you know what exactly you're voting to change?
Second, this proposal is not simply about stem cell research. It's about stem cell research on live human embryos. You don't hear much in the way of the word 'human' from the proponent's side when they advertise for the passage of this proposal. It has also been touted that the state of Michigan has very strict limitations on stem cell research, including that of human embryos. Research using embryonic stem cells is completely legal in Michigan right now. Amazingly enough, the University of Michigan has one of the 3 largest studies involving stem cell research within the entire United States and received one of the highest amounts of federal funding (as a result of G.W.Bush's 2001 ruling) for this endeavor. At this time, the stem cells extracted from embryos have to be brought into the state; they are not able to be harvested here, thereby limiting the extent of the research work scientists would like to accomplish with these cells. To clear the record: those of us who are against Proposal 2 are NOT against stem cell research. We are opposed to the destruction of live human embryos for the purpose of extracting their stem cells for the sake of scientific research. So why all of the fuss about stem cells? Without going into great length, I will simply state that these cells are quite incredible components of our make up. Stem cells are the building blocks for every organ and tissue in the body. They have the ability to renew themselves through cell division and to become many different types of cells; thus, they serve as the growth, maintenance or healing cells of the body, and they represent enormous potential for cures and treatments by applying medical knowledge and technology to the body's own healing mechanism. So how does that affect myself or people I may know? It shows promise to help those who live with such conditions as: Parkinson's disease, congestive heart failure, juvenile-onset diabetes, and spinal cord injuries. It is not hard for either you or I to imagine how radically altered a person's life would be if they were cured of one of these diseases, as well as all of the social/medical/physical ramifications that would also come about in the wake of a cure. Truly, the potential benefits are huge with a capital "H". Where exactly do scientists get these stem cells from? Currently there are four sources: (1) Adult cells; (2) Umbilical cord blood/placentas; (3) Induced pluripotent cells (adult cells 'reprogrammed' to think they are embryonic); and (4) Embryonic cells (extracted from live human embryos 5-7 days after fertilization, an act which kills the embryo). I could apologize for the details, but I think some groundwork needed to be laid. Moving on...
So how does this deal with the proposal I will be voting on?? Glad you asked.
(1) Proposal 2 allows unrestricted science on human embryos and any research involving stem cells. The proposed constitution reads in part (you'll see some of this on Nov. 4th):
"All stem cell research...must be conducted.. in accordance with state and local laws.. to the extent that any such laws do not prevent, restrict, obstruct, or discourage any stem cell research or create disincentives for any person to engage in or otherwise associate with such research." That means that if this proposal passes, there will be no state or local law, no ruling of the State Supreme Court or legislation from the state Congress, or will of the citizens of Michigan that will be able to create boundaries around what is being performed within these science labs. Advocates for Proposal 2 want people to believe that federal law will provide regulations and restrictions on human embryo research. The fact is that there are NO federal laws limiting or restricting research using human embryos. The proponents of Proposal 2 are asking for an enormous loophole through which they can walk through and conduct their research work without much oversight; out of the other states that have adopted a proposal similar to this, none have asked for such leeway within their proposals. Since this proposal prohibits the Michigan legislature from passing any law regarding this research, this proposal aspires to bring to fruition just this: the complete reliance upon Washington politicians (in conjuction with special interest groups) to govern this new arena of science. Perhaps they'll be as fastidious in their governance and oversight of this research work as they were with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac..."Hope so" almost seems too kind of an expression to extend to them.
(2) This proposal does nothing to strengthen or weaken the current ban on human cloning. As a matter of fact, one leading proponent of this proposal expressed in a radio interview that one of their hopes is that in the future they will be able to utilize cloning for their research work. The loopholes in this proposal also mean that cloned human embyros can be trafficked into Michigan and killed through research. As long as an embryo was ostensibly created for "fertility treatment purposes," scientists can do anything they want.
(3) This proposal invites taxpayer funding. No, I did not say that if you vote "yes" for this proposal, the taxpayer will automatically foot the bill. A precedence has been set by the other states in which this research work is currently legal. In New York, Missouri, and Massachusetts, taxpayers are paying hundreds of millions of dollars to fund ESC research; in California, a 3-year, 4 billion dollar (yes, that's BILLION) taxpayer funded study is underway regarding stem cell research (including ESC research). Scientists from the Univ of Mich recently stated at a symposium regarding ESC research that they believe that this research should be 'publicly funded'. Amazing how the local and state legislature, as well as the citizens of this state, have absolutely no say over the regulation of this research as put forth under Proposal 2, but they sure would like to utilize the money in your paycheck to fund their work.
(4) Embryonic stem cell research has shown little substantive evidence of being beneficial in any regard. For all of the hype surrounding this research work, there is not a single research study or medical treatment that is currently helping any human being. There are NO clinical trials yet to be approved utilizing ESC's. The two major problems in animal trials are: tissue rejection and tumor formation. Makes you want to sign up for a study then, doesn't it? Adult stem cell research has already generated over 70 clinical studies, many of which are showing tremendous potential for therapies to be developed. And the beauty of this research is that there is absolutely no ethical dilemma surrounding the materials scientists are using for their experiments.
(5) This proposal sets up a system of research that has, from the observation of other research work around the country and the world, the potential for much interplay with situations of major ethical dilemma.
In England, it is currently legal to place human DNA within a cow egg; this creation is called a 'human hybrid'. Although there is very little cow DNA within this embryo, it does still possess both human and bovine components. This type of research is distinctly possible in the future regarding ESC's.
In California, there has been much money spent on ESC research, yet scientists are running into a slight dilemma: they're running out of enough embryos to experiment on. Thus, they began offering to pay women money for the purpose of donating their eggs for research. This created an ethical dilemma as well as a dilemma surrounding the physical/emotional/ reproductive effects this type of science involving 'egg extraction' creates for American women. At what cost will women be subjugated to this type of proposition that donating their eggs for research will both be of monetary gain to them, as well as a contribution to research work that has the promise of curing many people who suffer from chronic diseases? What of the long-term effects on their reproductive health? Where is the science to back up the argument that their health is even worth the risk of an unproven science?
It has been speculated that this proposal does create the opportunity for a 'black market' on the buying/selling/ transfer of human embryos, particularly within an industry that is, at the local/state level, very under-regulated.
(6) Proponents of this proposal insinuate that denial of the passage of this proposal is an uncompassionate and inhumane response.
If you have caught any of the TV or radio commercials from the proponents, it always surrounds emotion: the emotion of empathy for the suffering of another human being. This is very interesting to me. (And for all of you who were wondering when I'd get past the technicalities of this issue and on to the whole issue of the validity of the human life being researched upon .....I'm getting to it!) First of all, it never once grants the status of 'human being' upon the embryo they destroy as a result of their research. This is a true "the End justifies the Means" scenario of justification. An embryo less than 14 days of age is still human, is it not? It is just the state of development of a human being at 14 days as opposed to that at 2 months, or 7 yrs, or 99yrs of age. It's all a part of the spectrum of development. I love a snippet of a paragraph within the book Slouching Towards Gomorrah by Robert H. Bork that I recently came across as I read his book:
"It is impossible to draw a line anywhere after the moment of fertilization and say that before this point the creature is not human but after this point it is. It has all the attributes of a human from the beginning, and those attributes were in the forty-six chromosomes with which it began. Francis Crick, the Nobel Laureate....is quoted as having estimated that 'the amount of information contained in the chromosomes of a single fertilized human egg is equivalent to about a thousand printed volumes of books, each as large as a volume of the Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Such a creature is not a blob of tissue or, as the Roe opinion so infelicitously put it, a 'potential life.' As someone has said, it is a life with potential." (p.175)
So, is the alleviation of suffering a just reason for ending the life of an individual who is 7 days old? Ah, yes. Here we are back again at the question of whether or not that embryo has personhood, and thereby has an innate right to live. Certainly, the decisions of 1973 have ramifications upon the decisions of 2008. If you extend personhood to the embryos that may possibly be utilized for research, should not the embryos within the womb also be granted that same status?? This is not an issue the pro-choice movement wants to see defeated. Guaranteed. As to the alleviation of suffering, let me clearly say that NONE of us who oppose Proposal 2 are in favor of suffering. We just believe that the unregulated science and inhumane treatment of human embryos proposed within this amendment are not "just means" by which we should address the plight of human suffering. Furthermore, adult stem cell research shows such promise for the actual implementation of therapies to alleviate suffering, none of which create any ethical dilemma surrounding it.
On a personal note, let me say clearly that I am not anti-science or anti-scientific research. I have a great appreciation for the scientific community. First of all, someone in that field developed insulin, a medicine that I literally would not live more than 2 weeks without. Secondly, I have a friend within the science community and the more I learned of his work, I have come to recognize how dedicated they are to their work; how hard they work for long periods of time to develop theories and models and instruments, etc. that support and implement their research; how competitive that arena is; how much work is done that is completely unrecognized by the American public, yet their work is important because it helps build upon the information gleaned by scientists that follow in their wake; how much they truly want their work to succeed and be beneficial ( in many aspects) to countless others. Yet for all my appreciation and respect, I still believe that science is not limitless. There are certain moral laws which guide and create boundaries and limits around scientific research. We all know that it can be used in a harmful way (i.e.,Tuskegee Syphilis research, Nazi Germany, etc.). How far are we going to let the boundaries go? At what cost will we alleviate suffering?
I have to admit that I've thought about what would happen if, hypothetically speaking, embryonic stem cell research provided a cure for Type I Diabetes. I have dealt with this chronic disease for 22 yrs now, and I can say from a first-hand basis how incredibly life-altering it would be to have a pancreas that performed the way it was designed to perform. But, if I knew it was at the expense of the destruction of a human life, could I accept that cure? Hmmm. If I truly believed in the sanctity of that life, there should be no dilemma. Yet, what to say to the mother on the TV commercial who asks you not to deny her daughter the right to a cure for diabetes? She certainly cares to see a cure! Well, so do I! But again, I ask... at what cost?
I've been long-winded, and yet much more could be said. Let me direct you to a couple of websites for more information on this issue, should you have time to look at it before you cast your vote tomorrow. They are:
www.stemcellresearchcures.com www.2goes2far.org
www.micause.com
These web sites contain much bibliographic info/articles that back up my message. Some very interesting articles on the 2goes2far site.
And, in order to be a Fox News-worthy woman, I'll be a wee bit "fair and balanced" and include a site from the proponents of Proposal 2.
www.curemichigan.com

Remember.... 2 GOES 2 FAR... vote NO on Proposal 2.

Thanks for taking the time to listen. Now go and VOTE for LIFE!

Sunday, November 02, 2008

Barakel---always glad to 'turn again'

What's not to love about spending a weekend in the beautiful North country of Michigan? I daresay it's hard to find an answer to that question. I had the opportunity to spend 2 weekends at Camp Barakel (a non-denominational Christian camp located in Fairview, MI). My time spent there is just another accumulation of many years' worth of time spent on the Camp's grounds. I enjoyed the 5 summers I spent at Barakel, and since graduating from college, I've enjoyed the opportunity to spend a few weekends there, both as a 'retreater' and in the capacity of ministry.
In September, I had the opportunity to be in both positions within the same month. My first weekend was spent ministering in music during a Fall Ladies Retreat, and my second weekend was spent with three women from my church as participants in the Ladies Retreat. I thoroughly enjoyed both weekends for various reasons: I enjoyed my time away from Saginaw, the opportunity to spend a weekend with other Christian women and be challenged by the Word in chapel services, to just have fun in the great outdoors, to see longtime friends on the Camp staff, and to come home feeling refreshed physically and spiritually. Below are a few pics and a bit of commentary.





I took this picture on my way out of Camp. The leaves weren't in their full glory, but I always enjoy pictures of rural roads that are surrounded by and sheltered by trees in their Fall colors.
The Immanuel gang: Me, Tracey Delong, Chris Klein, and Nora Krueger. This was taken in the East Side chapel. I must add that I was accosted by my older brother, Ben, after he saw a photo of me wearing this NY Yankees hat; apparently, I missed the family edict which stated that "Glupker's do NOT wear NYY hats." Ben was oblivious to the fact that apparently we do, because I borrowed this hat from my brother Drew. Either way, I just didn't want to do my hair, and so I was all about wearing a hat....any hat.
The chapel messages left me with a few thoughts to ponder, but also an overall important thing... the reaffirmation of the beauty of Truth from Scripture, and the true Life that it gives to believers. As people we forget many things and often need reminders to spur our memory.....
how I needed to be reminded that the beauty of a life lived for Christ is a sweet-smelling sacrifice to God, and an aroma that leaves its mark on the World around me.

Thunder Express: A long plastic tunnel/chute through which a person is propelled downhill while sitting on a plastic sled. Of course, I tried it out... and thought it was quite fun.


I spent a couple of mornings walking down to Shear Lake (located on Barakel property). This was taken on the West Side of camp; I hiked around the lake that morning from the East Side in order to play piano for a West Side chapel service. It was a grey, misty day, but the scenery didn't lose its luster.



The 4 of us tried our hand at archery, and we all did fairly well. Yes, we did hit the targets and we did score some points.




Nora was our resident sharpshooter. She did a phenomenal job at riflery, and I wish I could show you a video of how patient Nora was as she laid on her mat, taking careful aim at the targets. We were hoping Nora would win a prize and get her name announced in chapel, but someone beat her by a couple of points. Next time Nora!!





Tracey and Chris take aim with their 22 rifles.







This is a beautiful chrysallis I found outside of the side door of the East Side chapel. It was an intense jade color with little gold dots.... such an intricate work of Creation. It was gone by the time I came to my second weekend at Camp.






The beautiful Yamaha piano I played on in the East Side Chapel. I have no qualms in saying that I LOVE this piano. Such a beautiful depth and richness to its sound! I could play it for hours straight without a problem. Thanks to the Camp staff for inviting me to come and play my music on this gorgeous instrument! And further thanks to all of the staff who serve the Lord so faithfully year after year....you are a wonderful example to me.