Recently I wrote that it seemed as though television over the public airwaves is sponsored with distrubing regularity by pharmaceutical firms who, it seems to me, are making their best effort to market directly to the public. What's the purpose? Even though they always say "ask your doctor if blah-blah-blah is right for you," I think the real reason is to make people identify with the actors and then conjure up whatever ailment is supposed to be cured by the miracle drug being sold. Why else would they do it? If someone had the symptoms described without any prompt, wouldn't the person affected go to their doctor and tell him/her so? Wouldn't the doctor then offer choices and counsel the patient about possible side effects? If not, maybe you're seeing the wrong doctor! Anyway, the whole thing rather disturbs me. I am not a doctor and I don't want some 30-second spot on television offering me a list of symptoms that I can adopt as my own and then offer MY advise to my doctor regarding a potential cure! Oh well - off the soapbox on that one for now!
What made me laugh, and brought the subject to mind once again, was a commercial my darling bride and I saw last evening. It was a drug to alleviate the symptoms of RLS, but it was not the same concoction that's been advertised in the past. Sorry, I don't recall the name of the compound; I was laughing too hard at the end of the advertisement to catch it. As they were listing the possible side effects, they mentioned that an "increased desire for sexual activity or gambling" may result from taking this particular drug! SEXUAL ACTIVITY OR GAMBLING!!! I looked at my darling wife and said, "Man! We've got to get some of that! We can go gambling, and then have sex! Or, even better, we can have sex WHILE we're gambling! It'll be awesome!!!" Corporately, we thought that that was about the funniest thing we'd ever heard! I know they have to list side effects, but a couple of questions come to mind. First, if a drug might cause you to lose normal inhibition and have an increased desire for purient pleasure, why on earth would anyone ever take it anyway? Second, how on earth did they discover this interesting side effect? I mean, did the monkeys they tested it on start spontaneous breeding while wagering for bananas, or what? In human trials, how did that go? "Ma'am, did you experience any unusual sensation or symptom while taking the drug?" "Oh, yes! I had an uncontrollable urge to fly to Vegas and bet the mortgage and while I was there, I had seventeen gigilos up to the room!"
Someone please beam me up! Crazy glue got into the water supply and it's having a deleterious side effect! - Dan
Blogging about the things I'm most passionate about; my relationship with the Lord Jesus, my darling bride Kim ("MDB"), politics, education, sports, coaching, and, did I mention MDB? She's the sweetest, kindest, most compassionate and most loving person EVER!!!
About Me
- Dan
- Blood-bought, born-again believer in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for our sins on the cross; teacher and coach; loving father and husband; avid sports enthusiast; amateur politician; professional student of human nature.
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6 comments:
Well! Howdy there Dan. I'd about given up ever hearing from you again. I'd looked in on your blog several times in hopes of seeing a new entry, but no luck. Then my PC crashed and burned and I'm just beginning to rebuild my blogroll and list. Yours was one of the addies that was left to float out in cyberspace. thanks for checking in at Beauangel's World. Hopefully and you'll do so more often now.
btw-hope you have a moment to comment on the "Same Sex Attraction" entry. I'd really like to read your comments there.
I too was taken aback by the same commercial's juxtaposition of augmentation of sexual to gambling desires. Funnnnny!
So wonderful to hear you being happy again, Dan. May our gracious LORD continue to bless your union for years and years to come!!
Glad to be back in touch!
In His love, grace and mercy
Kathy
I'm going to try to be more "regular," at least in the meantime. Sadly (or gratefully, actually!), I have to go back to work on 8-7, which means I'm back on the treadmill for about 6 months or so starting then. Life is funny; my new bride lived a large portion of her life in Abilene and has many friends there and now you, also, hail from that same town. Even funnier, my wife attended (as do I now) the CoC that "Preacher Mike" pastors and knows him professionally very well. Small world, huh? I'll look in on "same-sex attraction" and comment. Good to hear from you again! LIC, Dan
"Even funnier, my wife attended (as do I now) the CoC that "Preacher Mike" pastors and knows him professionally very well."
Are you saying you attend Highland here in Abilene now, or are you saying you now attend a cofC? If the latter, which one in Houston? There are some great churches in that area and Mike's older son, daughter-in-law and new grandbaby are there. Matt is finishing up med school there.
How wonderful it is that our God continues to draw us into a closer and closer circle, into a true family.
How different do you find the cofC from your previous church? Core beliefs are the same, aren't they, but sometimes the wrapping paper can be different.
I'm fairly close to Mike and Diane Cope, if your bride wishes I'll say hi to them when they return from their annual summer hiatus. BTW-what's her name, dear friend??
Her name is Kimela. She said that her former sister-in-law attends Highland and that you may know her (Dana Hood). Her maiden name was Hood, naturally. We attend the Alvin Coc in Alvin, TX. I do find the style of worship different, but, as you say, their core beliefs are the same as any Christian denomination I've ever been associated with and I've enjoyed it thus far. What's funnier, my bride and I honeymooned in New Braunfels and stayed in a B&B close by. The people who stayed in the room right before us (we read the guest register) was Matt and Jenna Cope! Too weird!
Yes, I do know Dana. In fact, she gave the communion devotional/thoughts this past Sunday. As your dear Kimela knows, Highland is not a particularly traditional cofC. Women are encouraged to develop and use their God-given gifts and if those include sharing with the congregation in open worship, there we are.
You might enjoy reading Mike's blog
preachermike.com
He stimulates open discussion and exchange of diverse opinions, including women exercising their spiritual gifts even as men do.
Drop by and say hi sometime. I think you'll find him stimulating and causes one to really stretch the walls of their thinking.
So glad to be back in touch with you, Dan. Maybe you and Kimela will be able to come to Abilene one of these fine days. It would be such a blessing to finally meet you face-to-face!!
In His love, grace and mercy
kathy
Actually, we've been talking about doing just that, but who knows when we'll be able to fit it in! I've got about two weeks to finish my remodeling/refurbishing projects here and move what I can to her place before school starts up and then things get REALLY hectic! LOL!
I agree - it would be an honor and a treat to finally meet you in person after all these years of talking back and forth on the internet!
I've looked in on "preacher mike" a few times. I think I even posted a comment there once, but I can't recall offhand. I do remember enjoying his perspective.
I have to admit - I've been a bit surprised by the role women take, apparently institutionally for the most part, in the CoC. My experience in the past has been that of women taking a very active role up to and including a role from the pulpit (female evangelists for the most part), so the male domination of practically everything in the CoC family has been eye-opening. Despite that, and the lack of music in worship, I've enjoyed the experience so far. The people at ACoC have been very friendly and welcoming to me and I intend to get involved in whatever way I can whenever the opportunity arises.
Keep in touch! May God bless you this day and every day He gives us breath! LIC, Dan
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