My in-laws get that I have headaches, and sever ones. The problem is that they keep trying to find the cause. They'll actually ask me every time I see them if I thought of this or that, or say it must be Lyme disease (they're from CT). Father-in-law has a habit of trying to connect me with other people who have had "similar" headaches to see what caused theirs.

I know they care and do this for that reason only. Doesn't irritate me any less, but at least  know they're on my side.

For the doubters, just ignore them because they don't really know what they're talking about. I can't tell you how many people I've come across that ask if I've been under too much stress. People are just really unaware.

-Chris

I asked Lauren to elaborate on her statement, because quite honestly I was a little offended (as I'm sure others were as well) by what I thought was a reference to God (who happens to my Lord and Savior) as a "spaghetti monster".  I thought I may have misunderstood and was curious what she meant as I had never heard that reference before.  Before I put a post on the board, I've learned to step back first, which is why I asked her if she cared to elaborate (which she did).  She explained her remark, and apologized for her poor choice of words (just as I would if I happened to say something to someone that was offensive to them).  I made no remark to my beliefs, to hers, or to yours (Mike), and I'm not going to throw down the gauntlet and battle wits over this with anybody... and that's the end of it as far as I'm concerned....'nuff said.

Sorry...don't know who Bill Hicks is...so I googled him.  It appears he's a comedian who deals with "mature, adult humor" and if you're under 18 you shouldn't visit his website.......SO, if that's who you are referring to...I'll take that as sarcasm.

Quote:


Hey Mike, I don't mean to be argumentative but it does depend upon the study and with what bias they began. In this study I believe the people were told they were being prayed for so rather than testing the effects of prayer, they ended up testing the effects of "what happens when patients know they are being prayed for." Not the same.

Besides, while such tests are interesting, they can't really test prayer's effectiveness or noneffectiveness. That's more like testing witchcraft which believes there will be an effect as willed by the spellcaster if everything is done just right: words, actions, ritual etc. That isn't what most think prayer to be. Rather than effecting my will (the motto of the Gardnerian) I seek to effect a divine will. Whatever that might be. I get there are objections to this, but what the heck? Hitchen's objections to those praying for him as he struggles with cancer have softened to the point where he now is no longer resentful (irrational if I'm praying to pasta) and instead is only skeptical (a truly defensible position.)

And guys, don't forget. We all have faith. Faith is what allows us to take someone else's word for the testing they have already done, or knowledge already acquired, and apply it without repeat testing ourselves. That's why we don't do stress tests on every chair we sit on. We have faith it will hold us. When it doesn't, that's when we become skeptical. For awhile. Until faith in the next chair kicks in. Those of us who put our faith in God are saying, in my experience and under my test parameters, God has not failed me in what He has promised me. That's all.

I try to encourage everyone to cultivate the faith they do have. It's opposite, and I've been there with the beast, is despair. Not skepticisim. I am a man of faith, and skeptical all to boot. I approach new ideas and new stuff with the same curmudgeonly resistance as any agnostic. But faith in god? Tested, tested and tested. And while my life has not been easy by any stretch (homeless 2x, sick, children in jeopardy, job lost 2, etc) I coulnd't have endured without the comfort I get from believing.

This is a critical element of our arsenal against the beast. Faith leads us to hope. Hope leads us to effective interventions. Effective interventions leads us to a happier day. Just my thoughts. God bless! lance

Lauren, I think you're pretty classy, too. Can I have the red wine if nobody else wants it? I prefer merlot, btw. Blessings! lance

wimsey1 wrote on Oct 29^th, 2010 at 8:13am:




JMO,but Lance your a smart fellow. My faith also brings me comfort.


I would join you  two on that glass of wine but I would get a flipping headache.

Ahh, politics and religion..what better way to get website's motor running.

Let me just say, that honestly there was a reason I didn't respond or want to debate after my first post...(see previous sentence).  And also why I didn't mention my own beliefs.  So let me tell you a little about me if that's ok.  I'm not a religious fanatic.  Do I go to church every Sunday? Nope.  A few times a year if I'm lucky.  I use to go religiously (pun intended) until they changed ministers and got one who thought that ranting, screaming and bible banging was going to get his point across (totally turned me off...so Lauren I DO UNDERSTAND!)  But that didn't change my faith.  I have a daily relationship with God that's mine and mine alone.  I would never try to push my beliefs on someone else (again why I didn't want to debate the issue).  It's a source of strength, comfort, and hope that has gotten me through more situations than I care to remember.  My daily conversations with God are not about please this, or please that...it's more about being thankful for giving me the strength to overcome adversity and for blessing me with a life that exceeded my wildest expectations.  Don't get wrong I pray for change and for other people too.  But it's the faith, not the preaching, that I live with daily.  As an example (I can't believe I'm writing this as nobody but my husband and best friend know) my faith got me through one rough day yesterday.  I had a cancer scare, spent 4 hrs going through various testing.  My faith has kept be calm these past few weeks and while I prayed that everything would be ok, I also knew that my faith would get me through if it was the worst case scenario. That's just me and my story.  What anyone else believes or how they live their life is their own personal decision, and I respect that, just as they should be respectful of my beliefs. 

So...Lauren, hand over that wineglass girlfriend...here's to us!  Two of many supporters and sufferers who are here for a common cause.  To PAINFREE days for everyone!

OK,OK, enough religion,lets talk politics. J/K 

But I will take a Bull on the rocks and a Imitrex chaser.

Well Mel..................I hope you got your answers because your thread was completely hi-jacked.

wimsey, I'm always out there!

It was a tangent, no biggie.  I got what I was looking for.

Ahhh just a tangent, not a hijack? But...but...I wanted to be pirate!

Where ARRRRRRR we going with this thread?

Funny but just yesterday I was explaining CH to a co-worker and after a couple mins. I could see I was getting nowhere so I started talking about the weather.

My fiance really never seen a k9/10,I dont get them, 6/7 worse for me (knock on wood) so she doesnt really know how bad it can get,and frankly either do I. But I have a good idea. Anyway I showed her a couple u-tube vids and she was floored. Now she gets it. Mabey she will feel more sorry for me now and I'll get rewarded(if ya know what I mean)