Book Review: No Small Miracles by a Pediatric Chaplain

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By Lisa Copen The loss of a daughter who is simply taking a photo of a blimp. . . giving birth to a child you know will live less than ninety minutes. . .Who would believe these stories could give one hope? Norris Burkes, author of No Small Miracles: Heartwarming, Humorous, and Hopefilled Stories from a Pediatric Chaplain, however, does just that. Through his eyes as a chaplain husband, and father we are given an inside look at the daily joy a someone in his profession can find even in the darkness of the most devastating circumstances. Burkes has experience as a chaplain who has worked in pediatric chaplaincy as well as a military chaplian. Filled with just the right amount of honest vulnerabilities and even humor, this book reminds … [Read more...]

Parish Nurse Resources

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Many churches now have what they call a parish nurse. This page is to provide information on parish nursing and links to resources for them. The goal of the parish nurse: It is to minister holistically to individuals and families, in and through the faith community, using her health education and spiritual maturity to promote wellness of body, mind, and spirit. As health issues become a greater concern for most of our population, the idea of having a parish nurse in congregations has become more appealing. They help with health concerns, visit ill people (sometimes for the social support) and make sure no one falls through the cracks. Parish nursing is a care program of lay leaders from the nursing profession, who serve to … [Read more...]

Embrace Magazine for Healthcare Providers

EMBRACE is a a new quarterly magazine that targets professional long term healthcare providers.If you or someone you know works in this field, it may be worth checking out. As a patient, you may want to print out  a copy of the web page to show your long-term care provider. TIP: It's always nice to pass along resources to your medical team like this that you think may be helpful & it looks like you are really on top of things! - Which is nice for them to recognize, because there may be days when you can't even remember your own phone number. The magazine offers a combination of information to help save time & reduce costs in long-term care facilities, as well as tips & encouragement for caregivers to also care for their own … [Read more...]

Get Ready to Eat Right This Season!

If you are like me you are excited about the fresh fruit & seasonal veggies about to ripen, & yet still fighting the battle of weight. Maybe yours is too low or too high, or perhaps with all the medications you are on you just struggle to maintain the weight you have. Well, my friend Joanna Faillace is an amazing woman who has put together a great cookbook for us --& she is even sharing the profits with Rest Ministries! I asked her to share about her book & here is what she wrote: Super-Naturally Healthy Families Cookbook, written by Certified Biblical Health Coach & TV host Joanna Faillace, is packed with all natural & great tasting smoothies, snacks, "habit-izers", meals & desserts! Our "fast food" lifestyle is causing obesity & … [Read more...]

Don Piper Ministries Has “Hope Summit” in Texas in May

We love HOPE around here at Rest Ministries & we also love Don Piper, so we wanted to pass along this information in case you live in the Pasadena, Texas area. Don Piper Ministries is holding it's first ever "Hope Summit," May 21-22, 2010 at First Baptist Church Pasadena, Texas. Many have asked if there would ever be an event held where they could come, bring family & friends, & hear Don's messages of hope & healing in person. Don & Eva Piper, Nash 3, Anita Onarecker Wood, Pray Guillory & Nicole Flenniken! You'll receive tremendous encouragement for eternity & for this present life. Register or find additional information at the web site. … [Read more...]

Joni & Friends Hosts Annual Summit For Disabilities Ministries

This annual event is wonderful & I have been honored to be a speaker & exhibitor for past years. This year, with my health being a bit more unpredictable I decided to pass on being involved as a speaker, though, as they date gets closer I am hopeful I may be able to attend. ~Lisa The event is May 7 & 8th & is co-sponsored by: First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena & The Joy Center for the Disabled. The registration form tells a bit about this amazing conference. Learn how to start or exp& a disability ministry at your church. Choose to attend up to 3 workshops each day offered at the Summit sessions on Friday & Saturday. Attend one networking session by geographical area (see how the churches around you are starting or exp&ing … [Read more...]

There are a Growing Number of Infections From Acupuncture

Acupuncture can be an alternative treatment option that can be very beneficial in relieving some pain & possibly other symptoms of a disease or condition. According to Wikipedia, "Acupuncture is the procedure of inserting & manipulating filiform needles into various points on the body to relieve pain or for therapeutic purposes. The word acupuncture comes from the Latin acus, 'needle', & pungere, 'to prick.'" According to Patrick Professor Woo, colleagues from the University of Hong Kong & the lead author in a study, "acupuncture may pose risks to patients as needles are inserted up to several centimeters beneath the skin." Medical News Today says: Most patients recover from infections. However, Professor Woo explains that 5 to 10 … [Read more...]

Free Cleaning Services for Women w/ Cancer Gears Up for Awareness Week

There are some organizations you run across & you think, "Now THERE is something we need for the chronically ill!" Here is one we especially like, "Cleaning for a Reason." httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZrhqElUfJs Right now Cleaning for a Reason is gearing up for Cleaning for a Reason Week, April 18-24 , 2010. (You can become a Cleaning for a Reason Facebook Fan here to help them spread the word.) They recruit professional residential maid services who are insured &/or bonded & perform background checks on their employees to participate. Each company has agreed to take 2 patients at a time & offer four free cleanings – one a month for four months. They accept cancer patient applications online, receive doctor’s verification … [Read more...]

Television Show w/ Lisa Airs this Week

In February I had the honor of meeting Maureen Pratt, author of Peace in the Storm, & getting to be a guest on her new television program, also called Peace in the Storm. It airs this week April 18-April 24th, & if you don't happen to get the channel (I don't either!) you can watch it online live when it airs. And even better news? It's on at least one time a day each week! Even if you do not live in North America, you can still watch too "streaming" as they call it LIVE at www.llbn.tv A little bit about the program: The first episodes of 'Peace in the Storm' began airing on LLBN TV Sunday, February 7. On Sunday of each week, a new episode airs & then re-airs Monday-Friday at a different time each day. The following is further … [Read more...]

Video Games Can Help Balance, Overall Health & More

When we was the last time that you sat down & played video games with your children or gr&children? It's becoming something you may just find in you physical therapy soon if you've not already. Dr. Stuart Smith, from the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute & Chair of a Games for Health interest group within the Health Informatics Society of Australia, says. . . "In particular, we have been using the 'Dance Dance Revolution' video game with older adults (75 & over) & have shown that improvements in stepping responses are important for balance control & prevention of falls. Falls are a major problem for older adults & we need to do all we can to reduce the chance of falls occurring. Exercise is a great way to do this & we are … [Read more...]

Feeling Lonely? It May be a Reason Your Blood Pressure is High

For the first time a new study show has show that there is a direct relation between one being lonely & an increase in blood pressure -- up to 4 years later! The study, published in the current issue of the Journal Psychology & Aging, found that the direct correlation is independent of age & other factors that can cause increased blood pressure, such as a high body-mass index, smoking, alcohol use & demographic differences (like race & income.) A researcher, Louise Hawkley says in the article "Loneliness behaved as though it is a unique health-risk factor in its own right." Medical News Today says: "Like blood pressure, loneliness is sometimes not easy to detect. People who have many friends & a social network can feel lonely if … [Read more...]

Are Herbs Safer Than Drugs?

According to ExperimentalMedicine.org, "approximately 25 percent of Americans who consult their physician about a serious health problem are employing unconventional therapy, but only 70 percent of these patients inform their physician of such use." Since herbal products are not regulated for their purity & potency, like conventional drugs, there can be severe adverse effectss & drug interactions. They can even be different from one batch to another. David Kroll, Ph.D., a pharmacologist & consultant to the Duke Center for Integrative Medicine (DCIM) says, "The single greatest resource for people who want credible herbal information is a health care practitioner who is uniquely trained in both conventional & alternative medicine. Those … [Read more...]