In which programs create tired people and middling spiritual growth

I've pretty much just copied and pasted some of this from www.jordoncooper.com. (He's the founder of Resonate, a Canadian emerging church cohort that I've been following for 3-4 years now.)

Willow Creek admits to getting it wrong.

In the Hawkins’ video he says, “Participation is a big deal. We believe the more people participating in these sets of activities, with higher levels of frequency, it will produce disciples of Christ.” This has been Willow’s philosophy of ministry in a nutshell. The church creates programs/activities. People participate in these activities. The outcome is spiritual maturity. In a moment of stinging honesty Hawkins says, “I know it might sound crazy but that’s how we do it in churches. We measure levels of participation.”

Having put all of their eggs into the program-driven church basket you can understand their shock when the research revealed that “Increasing levels of participation in these sets of activities does NOT predict whether someone’s becoming more of a disciple of Christ. It does NOT predict whether they love God more or they love people more.”

People like Dallas Willard have been saying this for years, increased level of church activities do not produce disciples, it just produces people who spend more time at the church (and out of their communities where they could be making a redemptive difference). The reason we default to activities can be explained by Lyle Schaller in his book, Reflections of a Contrarian where he talks about the kind of statistics churches and denominations count. Because it is easy to count participation in activities, we count that and therefore do things to increase those stats. On the other hand it is really hard to quantify a person becoming a better disciple of Christ which in turn gets put aside. Especially when almost every snake oil salesmen church growth consultant is selling churches on the idea of church programs (again, see what Darryl has to say about that). Good for Willow Creek to come to grips and their mistakes and for sharing them with the rest of the church. I think the problem runs deeper than teaching more Bible reading and spiritual disciplines but at least the discussion is happening.

*****************

(Me again)

It seems to me that the point of church has become the programs.

We have programs for everything. We have programs for hospitality. Programs for youth (God forbid they be included in the daily life of the church). Programs for young mothers. Programs for spiritual growth. Programs for losing weight, for learning to manage money, for missions, for outreach, for learning to sing. From the time you enter church as a 2 week old infant, baby, there is a program for you. What's your issue? Go to this class. What? You still have a problem? Try this other class.

If you want to grow, just get busy going to church. And if you really want to be spiritual, go to EVERYTHING.

I've become very disillusioned with modern church, to be honest. I have a lot of questions that I don't see answers for just yet. I don't think that's a surprise to usual readers of my blog. But here's the one bugging me recently:

Is the point of church to be building programs? Or is it people?

I know it's the stereotypical postmodern in me coming out, but I am so sick of structured, run-it-like-a-business church. It's not a business. Jesus is not the CEO here. It's community. It's family. Yes, occasionally dysfunctional but family nonetheless. And I love it. I love church and The Church with my heart of hearts. And yet they infuriate me. Jesus is no more the CEO of the church than Brian is the CEO of our family. Jesus never described the Church or his relationship with us like a business - it was always in terms of relationships.

My friend once told me that since most of our hurts come from relationships, most of our healing will come from those as well.

I've personally experienced church fatigue. As in, I'm sick of it. I have this Bible study on Monday nights, small group on Tuesday night, women's meeting on Thursday, mid-week service on Wednesday, youth event on Fridays, and then 3 services on Sundays. The common complaint of most pastors is that we're too busy busy busy. But you know what? So are the rest of us. The entire church is busy and tired. If we did everything our churches ask us to do, we'd be there 7 days a week, 12 hours a day. Most of the people at the programs are the weary Christians there to perpetuate the programs. They have jelly-faced toddlers and a lonely spouse and a demanding boss and a bathroom to clean and a spirit to nourish. And sitting through another sermon ain't helping.

Sidenote: I've become convinced that just like I don't like career-politicians, I don't like career-ministers. It's good to get out in the 'real world'. Where you don't have Bible study time on Mondays with the rest of the staff and you have to manage a 60-hour work week with kids and church commitments and the struggle to maintain a good marriage while balancing your cheque-book and being active at soccer league. Where you don't have the flexibility of hours or you're not getting paid for being there. When you get up every morning and go to work at a job you barely like because it's the honourable thing to provide for your family. Where you don't really have the comfort of knowing you're spending 60 hours a week fulfilling your calling. (Sidenote 2: This is not a rant on Pastors. We were pastors and we will pastor full-time again shortly. But ask Brian...it's been good for him to be out in the real world for a bit. It's a reality check as to how much demand we place on our people for programs.)

What if we were just to stop?

Stop the programs.

Just declare a "No Programs Month" like we do "No TV Month". What if we stopped asking people to be at church, hanging out with Christians for 5 nights a week and all day on Sundays? What if we told them to hang out with each other in love? What if we had some margin in our lives? What if we let them pick the topic for their small group? What if we empowered people to be ministers in their own context? What if we had time to volunteer at hot dog day at your kids school, coach the Little league or join the local book club? What if we stopped being so walled up in our churches and started being salt to a tasteless world? Light to a darkened room?

What if your pastor just talked to you instead of tried to recruit you? What if someone from your church called you and it wasn't to ask you to volunteer for something?

Brian is debating on starting a paper called "Church Fatigue". The basic gist of it is that we are running our people into the ground with programs. That people - even those that love God wholly - are sick and tired of church. And sick and tired of just being told to sustain the programs.

Here's the thing: we build all these programs for when people come to the church.

But what if they don't come?

What if they don't ever know what a great Sunday school class you have? What if they don't ask you to prove creation in 12 easy steps? What if they're sitting at your local library, corner pub, lonely apartment next door? And they'll never come to your church.

But they might like a friend.

In which I eat and pray

I am in the midst of a book called “Eat Pray Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert. I probably shouldn’t recommend it but I do. It’s a despairing woman’s travelogue of a journey through Italy for pleasure (eat), India for spiritual transformation through yoga (pray) and Indonesia for love. I am only halfway through India with Liz, as she calls herself, and am not only getting an education about the practice of yoga but also noticing that my travel bug has gorged itself to mythic proportions as it rides on my back. It’s a beautiful, self-deprecating and wise book. I picked it up at the request of a friend, Abbie, and to understand yoga a bit more as it is the spiritual practice of choice for many of my colleages/friends here.

The yoga portion has certainly been interesting. I practiced a bit of yoga while I was pregnant and quite enjoyed it purely from a stretching standpoint. I even engaged the spiritual aspect using the time of meditation or silence to calm my heart and pray, recite Scripture, connect with the wee baby etc. I also appreciate the austerity of the practice as that appeals to me. I don’t really want a religion or a spiritual practice that requires no change on my part. For too long, we, as Christians, in order to make ourselves more palatable, have watered down the truth of our message and the hope we have of transformation. Truthfully, a lot of the practices that yoga uses, Christian tradition has used for centuries. Meditation, prayer, solitude, silence, the spiritual retreat, the pilgrimage - these were all part of a more religious life if one looks just a bit deeper into our faith. And in our age of Wal-mart-parking lot and Starbucks-ambiance churches, it’s easy to feel sometimes like Christianity is just another cultural touchstone, another portion of our consumer-driven life. So for those that pursue other religions than Christianity for the sense of purity and austerity, the sense of connection to the divine through spiritual practices, I can completely understand that. I crave that as well. But I would say that we can - and should - pursue that through our faith as opposed to mixing up with other religions. The truth, I believe, is here. And if the method rubs one the wrong way, it doesn’t remove the truth or the hope or the transformation. One book I’d recommend for those that are interested more in this is The Sacred Way by Tony Jones.

Anyway, the section in Italy was really what resonated more with me. It was about pleasure and slowing down and time. It made sense to me in my prairie work-ethic self that simply doesn’t feel my worth unless I am producing 24 hours a day. I am, to be frank, occasionally exhausted. Whether it is my full-time work, my two side jobs as a freelancer, my work on my book, my parenthood, my wifehood, my friend/daughter/sister-hood or our volunteer work at our church, I often feel tired and run ragged. I have been struggling with simplifying. What can go? What needs to stay? I feel like I’m already operating at the very least I can do yet it still feels busy. I don’t feel as valuable when I’m not as busy. The winner is the one who is the busiest right? The most spiritual is the one that does the most? So this idea of pleasure and time and slowness is really appealing to me.

“Generally speaking, though, Americans have an inability to relax into sheer pleasure. Ours is an entertainment-seeking nation, but not necessarily a pleasure-seeking one. Americans spend billions to keep themselves amused with everything from p*rn to theme parks to wars, but that’s not exactly the same thing as quiet enjoyment. Americans work harder and longer and more stressful hours than anyone in the world today. But as Luca pointed out, we seem to like it. Alarming statistics back this observation up, showing that many Americans feel more happy and fulfilled in their offices than they do in their own homes. Of course, we all inevitably work too hard, then we get burned out and have to spend the whole weekend in our pajamas, eating cereal out of the box and staring at the TV in a mild coma (which is the opposite of working, yes, but not exactly the same thing as pleasure). Americans don’t really know how to do nothing. This is the cause of the great American stereotype - the overstressed executive who goes on vacation but cannot relax.

I once asked Luca if Italians on vacation had the same problem. He laughed so hard he almost drove his motorbike into a fountain.

“Oh, no!” he said. “We are master of il bel far niente.”

This is a sweet expression. Il bel far niente means “the beauty of doing nothing”. Now listen - Italians have traditionally been hard workers, especially those long suffering laborers. But even against that backdrop of hard work, il bel far niente has always been a cherished Italian ideal. The beauty of doing nothing is the goal of all your work, the final accomplishment for whic you are most highly congratulated. The more exquisitely and delightfully you can do nothing, the higher your life’s achievement. You don’t necessarily need to be rich in order to experience this, either. There’s another wonderful Italian expression: l’arte d’arrangiarsi - the art of making something out of nothing. The art of turning a few simple ingredients into a feast or a few gathered friends into a festival. Anyone with a talent for happiness can do this, not only the rich. ” (pages 61-62)

This really resonated with me because I struggle with the idea of doing nothing. Just enjoying a moment. And while I was sitting in bed, reading that passage above to Brian, I heard the voice of God in my heart of hearts - “I am that I am”. For Christians, this is how God identified himself in the book of Exodus to Moses when he asked the voice in the burning bush who sent him to Israel. God replied “I AM that I AM”. There is a lot of theological weightiness to that statement which is far above my paygrade but I also know that it also means a present presence. God is here. Now. In this moment. And God is in the pleasure as much as he is in the pain. Pleasure, I’ve always viewed as a gift from God. I can see now that God is not just giving us pleasure as he is pleasure. These moments of pleasurable nothing-ness, of making something out of nothing, is part of the life we have in God. God is right now. Yahweh is wrapped up in this very present moment, not sitting in church waiting to be worshipped on Sunday morning or standing over us with a big stick saying “Get more done! Be productive! Do great things for me!”

I have learned over the past couple of years in particular that God is not so much concerned with the “where” or “what” of our lives as the “how“. I grew weary in youth camps of hearing people tell kids “prophetically” that they were going to “win thousands to Christ” and that their life “would be huge’ and they’d “preach to thousands”. I think that maybe some of it was legit, but most of the time they were saying what they’d always said and what they were supposed to say. Our lives are supposed to that modern epitome of always striving, going to the next greatest thing and accomplishing, accomplishing, accomplishing. But when that’s all you’ve heard about serving God (well, that and “true love waits”), then it’s hard to see God in the daily-ness of life. Small beautiful lives laid out before God are lovely perfume. Whether one is meeting with the Secretary General or being kind to the school secretary, God is present. One is not more valuable than the other.

It’s hard to seek pleasure in doing what looks to the word like “nothing” (i.e. raising your kids, going to work) but doing it well. It’s hard to seek God when no one is watching. Because we don’t associate God with pleasure, we see it as another thing to “do”.

“Did you do your devotions? Did you pray? How is your walk with God? (And we measure it by the prior two questions rather than the true test - how well are you loving God and loving people?)”

This goes back to my earlier words about prayer and the more austere spiritual and sacred practices. We don’t pursue that aspect of our faith because it’s one more thing to “do” instead of the means of connection to God. I don’t see the pleasure aspect of life as separate from the pray or spiritual aspect.

I guess that’s why I can hear God speak so clearly to me through this decidely non-orthodox book about yoga-esque spirituality. I think that every book, if your motivation is to know God, will open up even the smallest window for the Spirit.

(By the way, I’m struggling with the word God these days. I’m wanting to use the phrases “Papa” and “Sarrayu” after reading “The Shack“. The intimacy and warm images those words bring up…)

As an aside to the pleasure bit, we went out for supper last night. Our first big fancy date since Anne was born, really. We went to a couple of things before but really aren’t good about the dating thing. I know that’s terrible but oh, well. We just take her with us everywhere and prefer our evenings at home. So we had this gift certificate to The Hart House from a former colleague (it was a gift two months before Anne was born if that’s any indication…). Anyway, talk about eat and pleasure! As Brian said this morning, that meal was worth a blog in itself. We spent more money than anyone should on a meal but thanks to the gift certificate didn’t have to feel guilty one bit. And it was not just great food but just nice to have two hours over a fabulous bottle of wine to talk and plan and laugh together.

In which Anne is growing up

Anne is now 14 months old. Where has the time flown?

She is quite a proficient little walker these days. She putters around the house, waving her arms and trying to run everywhere. She'd rather walk than be carried or pushed in the stroller these days. She is so curious and introspective.

She's cut 12 teeth already. Poor little monkey when the molars were coming in. She's such a little trooper.

She's got about 10 or 12 words now. The other day she added "Pull!" and "Don't touch". We say "Pull!" when we're taking her socks off. So she pulled her own sock off and promptly crowed out "Pull!" And yesterday I opened the dishwasher and said "Don't touch". She pulled her hand back and solemnly repeated "Don't touch."

Anne is also a little mimic. It's made me realise afresh the need to behave myself. Nothing is quite as accurate a mirror as a toddler.

I had my lotion on the floor one morning. She went over to it and tapped the top and then rubbed her hands on her legs. It was the funniest thing. She kept doing it over and over. Brian was dusting the house yesterday and she toddled over, grabbed a rag and started to swipe at the bookshelf. Brian has invented a little song for her called "Helper, helper, Anne's a mighty fine helper." She loves the song and putters around after us, helping with chores. She even has learned how to pick up laundry. If there is a sock on the floor, she picks it up and walks to her hamper where she promptly throws it in and claps. Now if I could just get Brian to do the same thing....

She also likes to "talk" on her play phone. She picks up the receiver, cradles it under her chin and says "hi" over and over. She'll open her books and turn pages while talking some ethereal baby-language to herself. While I make supper, I give her a pot and a wooden spoon which she then stirs into her pot, pretend-cooking along with Mummy.

The funny thing is that I haven't really "taught" her any of those things. She just imitates what she sees.

Her favourite things to play with are her books. She'll turn the pages for hours, bringing them over for reading, "reading" to herself, stacking them and moving them around. V. good.

My favourite thing about Anne these days is how sweet she is. She says hello to everyone she meets. She tries to share everything from her food to her toys with others. She is so gentle and kind, friendly and winsome. I'm incredibly proud of how well-behaved and easy-going she is. She just seems so settled and secure.

In which there are 101 reasons to breastfeed

1. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends it

"Human milk is the preferred feeding for all infants, including premature and sick newborns... It is recommended that breastfeeding continue for at least the first 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired."

(See A.A.P. Breastfeeding Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk (RE9729))

2. Breastfeeding promotes bonding between mother and baby

Breastfeeding stimulates the release of the hormone oxytocin in the mother's body. "It is now well established that oxytocin, as well as stimulating uterine contractions and milk ejection, promotes the development of maternal behavior and also bonding between mother and offspring."Uvnas-Moberg, Eriksson: Breastfeeding: physiological, endocrine and behavioral adaptations caused by oxytocin and local neurogenic activity in the nipple and mammary gland.: Acta Paediatrica, 1996 May, 85(5):525-30

3. Breastfeeding satisfies baby's emotional needs

All babies need to be held. Studies have shown that premature babies are more likely to die if they are not held or stroked. There is no more comforting feeling for an infant of any age than being held close and cuddled while breastfeeding. While many bottle-feeding parents are aware of the importance of cradling their babies while offering the bottle, some are not. Even for parents with good intentions, there is always the temptation to prop up a bottle next to the child, or, when the baby is a little older, to let the child hold his/her own bottle and sit alone. This is emotionally unsatisfying to baby, and can be dangerous physically. An unsupervised child can choke. Also, propping up bottles over night leads to tooth decay.

4. Breast milk provides perfect infant nutrition

"Human milk is uniquely superior for infant feeding and is species-specific; all substitute feeding options differ markedly from it. The breastfed infant is the reference or normative model against which all alternative feeding methods must be measured with regard to growth, health, development, and all other short and long-term benefits."
 

(See A.A.P. Breastfeeding Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk (RE9729))

5. Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of breast cancer

"If all women who do not breastfeed or who breastfeed for less than 3 months were to do so for 4 to 12 months, breast cancer among parous premenopausal women could be reduced by 11 percent, judging from current rates. If all women with children lactated for 24 months or longer, however, then the incidence might be reduced by nearly 25 percent. This reduction would be even greater among women who first lactate at an early age."

Newcomb PA, Storer BE, Longnecker MP, et al. Lactation and a reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer. 

N Engl J Med. 1994;330:81-87

6. Formula feeding increases baby girls' risk of developing breast cancer in later life

Women who were formula-fed as infants have higher rates of breast cancer as adults. For both premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer, women who were breastfed as children, even if only for a short time, had a 25% lower risk of developing breast cancer than women who were bottle-fed as infants.

Freudenheim, J. et al. 1994 "Exposure to breast milk in infancy and the risk of breast cancer". Epidemiology 5:324-331

7. Formula Feeding is associated with lower I.Q.

The latest study to support this statement was done in New Zealand. Here an 18 year longitudinal study of over 1,000 children found that those who were breastfed as infants had both better intelligence and greater academic achievement than children who were infant-formula fed. Horwood and Fergusson, "Breastfeeding and Later Cognitive and Academic Outcomes", Jan 1998 Pediatrics Vol. 101, No. 1

Morrow-Tlucak M, Haude RH, Ernhart CB. Breastfeeding and cognitive development in the first 2 years of life. Soc Sci Med. 1988:26;635-639

Lucas A., "Breast Milk and Subsequent Intelligence Quotient in Children Born Preterm". Lancet 1992;339:261-62

Wang YS, Wu SY. The effect of exclusive breastfeeding on development and incidence of infection in infants. J Hum Lactation. 1996; 12:27-30

8. Breast milk is always ready and comes in a nicer package than formula does

Need we say more?

9. Breast milk helps pass meconium

Babies are born with a sticky tar-like substance called meconium in their intestines. Colostrum, or early milk, is uniquely designed to help move this substance through the infant's body.

10. Breast milk contains immunities to diseases and aids in the development of baby's immune system.

Formula provides neither of these benefits

Koutras, A.K., "Fecal Secretory Immunoglobulin A in Breast Milk vs. Formula Feeding in Early Infancy". J. Ped Gastro Nutr 1989.

11. Breast milk is more digestible than formula

"Babies can digest human milk more easily than the milk of other animals, probably because human milk contains an enzyme that aids in this process. Breast milk forms softer curds in the infant's stomach than cow's milk (the basis for most formulas) and is more quickly assimilated into the body system. While it contains less protein than does cow's milk, virtually all the protein in breast milk is available to the baby. By contrast, about half the protein in cow's milk passes through the baby's body as a waste product. Similarly, iron and zinc are absorbed better by breastfed babies."

The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds

Copyright 1972, 1987 Comstock, Inc., Workman Publishing Co., Inc.

708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

12. Suckling helps shrink mother's uterus after childbirth

"Nursing will help you to regain your figure more quickly, since the process of lactation causes the uterus (which has increased during pregnancy to about 20 times its normal size) to shrink more quickly to its prepregnancy size. "

The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds

Copyright 1972, 1987 Comstock, Inc., Workman Publishing Co., Inc.

708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

The uterus of the non-breastfeeding mother will never shrink back to its pre-pregnant size. It will always remain slightly enlarged.

Chua S, Arulkumaran S, Lim I et al. "Influence of breastfeeding and nipple stimulation on postpartum uterine activity." 

Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1994; 101:804-805

13. Suckling helps prevent post-partum hemorrhage

Nursing her baby causes the mother's body to release oxytocin, which stimulates contractions which help shrink the uterus back to prepregnancy size while expelling the placenta. These contractions also shut off the maternal blood vessels that formerly fed the baby and discourage excessive bleeding. Women who choose not to breastfeed must be given synthetic oxytocin to insure against hemorrhaging.

Chua S, Arulkumaran S, Lim I et al. "Influence of breastfeeding and nipple stimulation on postpartum uterine activity." 

Br J Ovstet Gynaecol 1994; 101:804-805

14. Nursing helps mom lose weight after baby is born

Breastfeeding requires an average of 500 extra calories per day. Dewey KG, Heinig MJ, Nommwen LA. Maternal weight-loss patterns during prolonged lactation. 

Am J Clin Nutr 1993;58:162-166

Mothers who breastfed exclusively or partially had significantly larger reductions in hip circumference and were less above their prepregnancy weights at 1 month post partum than mothers who fed formula exclusively." Kramer, F., "Breastfeeding reduces maternal lower body fat." J. Am Diet Assoc 1993; 93(4):429-33

15. Pre-term milk is specially designed for premature infants

"Milk produced by women who deliver prematurely differs from that produced after a full-term pregnancy. Specifically, during the first month after parturition, preterm milk maintains a composition similar to that of colostrum." Hamosh, Margit, PhD, Georgetown University Medical Center "Breast-feeding: Unraveling the Mysteries of Mother's Milk". 

16. The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend it

"...breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; ... it forms a unique biological and emotional basis for the health of both mother and child; ...the anti-infective properties of breast milk help to protect infants against disease; and ... there is an important relationship between breastfeeding and child spacing".(Emphasis added)

(See The WHO/UNICEF International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes).

17. Breastfeeding protects against Crohn's disease (intestinal disorder)

Koletzko S, Sherman P, Corey M, et al. "Role of infant feeding practices in development of Crohn;s disease in childhood."

Br Med J. 1989;298:1617-1618

Rigas A, Rigas B, Blassman M, et al. "Breast-feeding and maternal smoking in the etiology of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in childhood." Ann Epidemiol. 1993;3387-392

18. Formula feeding increases risk of baby developing type I (juvenile, insulin-dependent) diabetes.

The results of a study in Finland suggest that young age at introduction of dairy products and high milk consumption during childhood increase the level of cow's milk antibodies in the children's systems. This factor is independently associated with increased risk of insulin dependent diabetes. Virtanen et al: "Diet, Cow's milk protein antibodies and the risk of IDDM in Finnish children." Childhood Diabetes in Finland Study Group. Diabetologia, Apr 1994, 37(4):381-7

Mayer, EJ, Hamman RF, Gay EC, et al. "Reduced risk of IDDM among breast-fed children". Diabetes, 1988;37:1625-1632

Virtanen SM, Rasanen L, Aro A, et al. "Infant feeding in Finnish children <7 yr of age with newly diagnosed IDDM". 

Diabetes Care, 1991;14:415-417

Gerstein HC. "Cow's milk exposure and type 1 diabetes mellitus". Diabetes Care. 1994;17:13-19

Borch-Johnson, K., et al., "Relation between breastfeeding and incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus". Lancet 2:1083-86 (1984)

19. Breastfeeding decreases insulin requirements for breastfeeding mothers

Reduction in insulin dose postpartum was significantly greater in those who were breastfeeding than those who were bottle feeding. Davies, H.A., "Insulin Requirements of Diabetic Women who Breast Feed." British Medical Journal, 1989

20. Breastfeeding stabilizes progress of maternal endometriosis

21. Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of developing ovarian cancer

Rosenblatt KA, Thomas DB, "WHO Collaborative Study of Neoplasia and Steroid Contraceptives". Int J Epidemiol. 1993;22:192-197

Schneider, A.P. "Risk Factor for Ovarian Cancer". New England Journal of Medicine, 1987.

22. Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of developing endometrial cancer

Petterson B, et al. "Menstruation span- a time limited risk factor for endometrial carcinoma". Acta Obstst Gyneocol Scand 1986;65:247-55

23. Formula feeding increases chances of baby developing allergies

Lucas A, Brooke OG, Morley R, et al. "Early diet of preterm infants and development of allergic ar atopic disease: randomized prospective study". Br Med J. 1990:300:837-840

Halken S, Host A, Hansen LG, et al. "Effect of an allergy prevention programme on incidence of atopic symptoms in infancy". Ann Allergy. 1992;47:545-553

Saarinen UM, Kajossari M. "Breastfeeding as prophylaxis against atopic disease: prospective follow-up study until 17 years old."

Lancet. 1995;346:1065-1069

24. Breast milk lowers risk of baby developing asthma

Breastfed babies have lower risk for developing recurrent wheezing when they are older (age 6 or more). Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Med., July 1995

25. Formula feeding increases baby's risk of otitis media (ear infections)

"Otitis media is up to 3-4 times more prevalent in formula-fed infants".

Aniansson G, Alm B, Andersson B, et al. "A prospective cohort study on breast-feeding and otitis media in Swedish infants". Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1994; 13:183-188

Kovar MG, Serdula MK, Marks JS, et al. "Review of the epidemiologic evidence for an association between infant feeding and infant health." Pediatrics. 1984:74:S615-S638

Saarinen UM. "Prolonged Breast Feeding as prophylaxis for recurrent otitis media." Acta Paediatr Scand. 1982;71:567-571 

26. Formula feeding may increase risk of sudden infant death syndrome (S.I.D.S.)

Ford RPK, Taylor BJ, Mitchell EA, et al. "Breastfeeding and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Int J. Epidemiol. 1993;22:885-890

Mitchell EA, Taylor BJ, Ford RPK, et al. "Four modifiable and other major risk factors for cot death: the New Zealand Study". 

J Paediatr Child Health. 1992;28:S3-S8

Scragg LK, Mitchell EA, Tonkin SL, et al. Evaluation of the cot death prevention programme in South Auckland. 

NZ Med J. 1993;106:8-10

27. Breastfeeding protects baby against diarrheal infections

Kovar MG, Serdula MK, Marks JS, et al. "Review of the epidemiologic evidence for an association between infant feeding and infant health." Pediatrics. 1984:74:S615-S638

Dewey KG, Heinig MJ, Nommsen-Rivers LA. Differences in morbidity between breast-fed. "Differences in morbidity between breast-fed and formula-fed infants." Pediatr. 1995;126:696-702

Howie PW, Forsyth JS, Ogston SA, et al. "Protective effect of breast feeding against infection." Br Med J. 1990;300:11-16

Popkin BM, Adair L, Akin JS, et al. "Breast-feeding and diarrheal morbidity." Pediatrics. 1990;86:874-882

Beaudry M, Dufour R, Marcoux S. "Relation Between infant feeding and infections during the first six months of life." J Pediatr. 1995; 126:191-197

28. Breastfeeding protects baby against bacterial meningitis

Cochi SL, Fleming DW, Hightower AW, et al. "Primary invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease: a population-based assessment of risk factors." J Pediatr. 1986;108:997-896

Istre GR, Conner JS, Broome CV, et al. "Risk factors for primary invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease: increased risk from day care attendance and school-aged household members." J Pediatr. 1985;106:190-198

29. Breastfeeding protects baby against respiratory infections

Frank Al, Taber LH, Glezen WP, et al. "Breast-feeding and respiratory virus infection." Pediatrics 1982;70:239-245

Wright AI, Holberg DJ, Martinez FD, et al. " Breast feeding and lower respiratory tract illness in the first year of life." 

Br Med J. 1989;299:935-949

Chen Y. "Synergistic effect of passive smoking and artificial feeding on hospitalization for respiratory illness in early childhood." Chest. 1989;95:1004-1007

Wright AL, Holberg CH, Taussig LM, et al. "Relationship of infant feeding to recurrent wheezing at age 6 years." 

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1995;149:758-763

30. Formula fed babies have a higher risk of developing certain childhood lymphomas

Davis MK, Savitz DA, Graubard BI. "Infant feeding and childhood cancer." Lancet. 1988;2:365-368

Shu X-O, Clemens H, Zheng W, et al. "Infant breastfeeding and the risk of childhood lymphoma and leukaemia". Int J Epidemiol. 1995;24:27-32

31. Breastfeeding decreases chances of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Preliminary data from U. of North Carolina/Duke University researchers indicates breastfed children were only 40% as likely to develop JA. "Mother's Milk: An Ounce of Prevention?" Arthritis Today May-June 1994

32. Breastfeeding decreases child's chances of contracting Hodgkins disease

"An Exploratory Study of Environmental and Medical Factors Potentially Related to Childhood Cancer." Medical & Pediatric Oncology, 1991; 19(2):115-21

33. Breastfeeding protects baby against vision defects

Birch E, et al. "Breastfeeding and optimal visual development." J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 1993;30:33-8

In a study in Bangladesh, breastfeeding was a protective factor for night blindness among preschool-aged children in both rural and urban areas. Breast milk is generally the main, if not the only source, of vitamin A during a child's first 24 months of life (or for the duration of breastfeeding). Bloem, M. et al. "The role of universal distribution of vitamin A capsules in combatting vitamin A deficiency in Bangladesh.: Am J Epidemiol 1995; 142(8): 843-55

34. Breastfeeding decreases chances of maternal osteoporosis in later life

The odds that a woman with osteoporosis did not breastfeed her baby was 4 times higher than for a control woman. Blaauw, R. et al. "Risk factors for development of osteoporosis in a South African population." SAMJ 1994; 84:328-32

Dr. Alan Lucas, MRC Childhood Nutrition Research Center of London, found that 8-year-olds who were fed formula rather than breast fed as infants, had less developed bone mineralization than those fed breast milk.

Melton LJ, Bryant SC, Wahner HW, et al. "Influence of breastfeeding and other reproductive factors on bone mass later in life." Osteoporos Int. 1993;22:684-691

Cumming RG, Klineberg RJ. "Breastfeeding and other reproductive factors and the risk of hip fractures in elderly woman." 

Int J Epidemiol 1993;22:684-691

35. Breast milk is an intestinal soother

36. Cows milk is an intestinal irritant

37. Formula-fed babies are more at risk for obesity in later life

38. Breastfed babies have less chance of cardiopulmonary distress while feeding

Bottle-fed babies are at increased risk of cardiopulmonary disturbances, including prolonged airway closure and obstructed respiratory breaths due to repeated swallowing. Koenig HS, Davies Am, Thach BT. "Coordination of breathing, sucking and swallowing during bottle feedings in human infants." J Appl Physiol 69: 1629: 1623-1629, 1990.

Infants can experience oxygen saturation below 90% when bottlefeeding. Nine of 50 healthy term infants in one study experienced bradycardia during bottlefeeding. Six of these episodes were preceded by apnea, three showed hypopnea (marked reduction in ventilation) and one had certral apnea (no respiratory efforts).

Matthew O, Clark ML, Ponske MH. Apnea, bradycardia, and cyanosis during oral feeding in term neonates." J Pediatr 106:857, 1985

39. Breastfed babies have less chance of developing ulcerative colitis

Rigas A, Rigas B, Blassman M, et al. "Breast-feeding and maternal smoking in the etiology of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in childhood." Ann Epidemiol. 1993;3387-392

40. Breast milk protects against hemophilus b. virus

Cochi SL, Fleming DW, Hightower AW, et al. "Primary invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease: a population-based assessment of risk factors." J Pediatr. 1986;108:997-896

Takala AK, Eskola J, Palmgren J, et al. "Risk factors of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease among children in Finland. 

J Pediatr. 1980;115:695-701

Istre GR, Conner JS, Broome CV, et al. "Risk factors for primary invasive Haemophilus influenzae disease: increased risk from day care attendance and school-aged household members." 

J Pediatr. 1985;106:190-198

41. Breastfed babies require shorter pre and post-surgical fasting

Breastfeeding may continue until three hours before arrival time at the hospital in healthy children having elective surgery.

Schreiner, M.S. "Preoperative and Postoperative fasting in children." Ped Clinics N Amer 41 (1); 111-20 (1994)

42. Breastfeeding results in less sick days for parents

Since breastfed babies are statistically healthier than their formula fed peers, the parents of breastfed babies spend less time out of work taking care of sick children.

43. Breastfeeding enhances vaccine effectiveness

Breastfed infants showed better serum and secretory responses to peroral and parenteral vaccines than those formula-fed.

Han-Zoric, M., "Antibody responses to parenteral and oral vaccines are impaired by conventional and low protein formulas as compared to breastfeeding." Acta Paediatr Scand 1990; 79:1137-42

44. Breastfed babies have less chance of developing necrotizing enterocolitis

Lucas A, Cole TJ. "Breast milk and neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis." Lancet. 1990; 336:519-1523

Convert RF, Barman N, Comanico RS, et al. "Prior enteral nutrition with human milk protects against intestinal perforation in infants who develop necrotizing enterocolitis." 

Pediatr Res. 1995; 37:305A. Abstract

45. Breastfeeding is a natural contraceptive

This is true only if you are exclusively breastfeeding, and have not yet gotten your period back following childbirth. Night nursing encourages longer amenorrhoea (periodlessness). If you really don't want to get pregnant again, use some back up birth control even if you haven't gotten your period again. You will have no way of knowing when your first ovulation will occur, and by the time you figure it out you may be expecting! Still, generally speaking, breastfeeding contributes to optimum child spacing.

Kennedy KI, Visness CM. "Contraceptive efficacy of lactational amenorrhoea." Lancet. 1992; 339:227-230

Gray RH, Campbell OM, Apelo R, et al. "Risk of ovulation during lactation." Lancet. 1990; 335:25-29

Labbock MH, Colie C. "Puerperium and breast-feeding." Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 1992; 4:818-825

46. Breastfeeding is easier than using formula

After the initial start up period, breastfeeding is very easy. All you have to do is lift up your shirt and let the little one latch on. No shopping for formula, bottles, and other supplies. No mixing, heating, refrigerating and cleaning up of formula. If you sleep with your baby, or sleep the baby next to your bed, you can forget about all the disturbing night time rituals associated with formula use. All you have to do is roll over, let the baby latch on, and go back to sleep!

47. Breast milk is free

The added calories a mother must take in are a negligible expense, and nursing clothes are optional. If you need to pump, excellent pumps are available for between $100 and $225. They can be used for more than one child, so they are really an investment. Any way you look at it, you'll spend a lot more money if you choose to formula feed.

48. Formula is expensive

The cost of feeding a baby on formula for one year was estimated to be around $1000 in 1990. It has certainly gotten more expensive since.

Batten W. Hirschman J. Thomas C. Impact of the special supplemental food program on infants. J Pediatr 117 II:SIOI-109, 1990

49. Formula costs the government (and taxpayers) millions of dollars

The U.S. government spends over $500 million a year to provide formula for its WIC supplemental food program.

Batten W. Hirschman J. Thomas C. Impact of the special supplemental food program on infants. J Pediatr 117 II:SIOI-109, 1990

50. Breast milk is always the right temperature

Severe burns to babies' mouths have occurred due to improper heating of artificial milks. Even when it's done correctly, it's never fun to try to warm a bottle for a fussing baby.

51. Breast milk always has the right proportions of fat, carbohydrates and protein

Formula companies are constantly adjusting these proportions looking for the best composition. The reality is that a mother's milk composition changes from feeding to feeding depending on the needs of her child. 

52. Breast milk acts like a natural tranquilizer for baby

Mother's milk contains chemicals that seem to work like "knock-out drops" for tired babies. Even if baby doesn't fall asleep, he/she will certainly calm down and become more agreeable. If you choose to breastfeed into toddlerhood, you may find that the "terrible twos" never materialize!

53. Breastfeeding acts like a natural tranquilizer for mom

Nursing mothers often joke about falling asleep on the job. The sleep inducing qualities of nursing a baby are remarkable. In fact, new mothers have to be careful to hold a nursing baby in such a way that they will not drop the child when they inevitably nod off. Nursing in bed is a great solution. Even pumping at work can be a great way to calm down and get refocused on a stressful day.

54. Breast milk tastes better than formula

Human breastmilk is remarkably sweet and light. Formula is pasty and bland. Which would you rather eat?

55. Breastfed babies are healthier over-all

(Kaiser Permanente: Internal research to determine benefits of sponsoring an official lactation program)

56. Breastfed babies are less likely to die before their third birthday

Van Den Bogaard, C. "Relationship Between Breast Feeding in Early Childhood and Morbidity in a general Population." 

Fan Med, 1991; 23:510-515

57. Breastfed babies require fewer doctor visits

Since breastfed babies are statistically healthier, they see the doctor less often.

(Kaiser Permanente: Internal research to determine benefits of sponsoring an official lactation program)

58. Breastfeeding mothers spend less time and money on doctor visits

In 1995 Kaiser-Permanente Health Maintenance Organization in North Carolina found that formula-fed babies averaged over $1,400 more per year in additional health care costs than breastfed infants.

(Kaiser Permanente: Internal research to determine benefits of sponsoring an official lactation program)

59. Fewer waste packaging products

No wrappers, canisters, disposable bottles etc...

"If every child in America were bottle-fed, almost 86,000 tons of tin would be needed to produce 550 million cans for one year's worth of formula. If every mother in Great Britain breastfed, 3000 tons of paper (used for formula labels) would be saved in a year. But formula is not the only problem. Bottles and nipples require plastic, glass, rubber, and silicon; production of these materials can be resource-intensive and often leads to end-products that are not-recyclable. All these products use natural resources, cause pollution in their manufacture and distribution and create trash in their packaging, promotion, and disposal."

"Mother Nature Loves Breastmilk" D. Michels, Pub. various periodicals, available on Internet at greenbm.html

60. No bottles to tote

Unless you're pumping and transporting the milk for later. Even then there are fewer bottles to deal with.

61. Less cow induced global greenhouse gasses

Ridiculous as it may sound, bovine flatulence is a huge contributor to the greenhouse gas problem. Aside from producing vast quantities of methane, cows also contribute their manure and urine to our rivers and ground water. 

62. No need to refrigerate

Of course, breast milk stays fresh because it's made on demand.

Even pumped breast milk keeps for a long time outside of the fridge.

(See guidelines for storing breast milk).

63. Cows milk is designed for baby cows

Human milk contains completely different proportions of protein, fat, carbohydrates. Cows milk is designed to help put on weight quickly, grow amazingly fast, and develop only as much brain power as a cow needs. The hormones in cows milk are geared toward cows, not humans. The fact that human beings can even drink the milk of another species in sort of amazing when you stop to think about it.

64. Human milk is designed for baby humans

Baby cows probably wouldn't do very well on it. It's designed to build brains, and to foster gradual physical growth. 

65. Natural pain relief for baby

Breast milk actually contains chemicals that suppress pain (endorphins). Aside from this, the comfort a baby derives from being held close and suckling is remarkable. Many a bruise or scrape has been soothed away almost instantly by a few moments of nursing. If you choose to have your child vaccinated, it is a good idea to nurse immediately after he/she receives a vaccination. This soothes the hurt, as well as enhancing the vaccine's effectiveness.

66. Perfect food for sick baby

When a formula fed baby gets a gastrointestinal ailment they are usually put on an artificial electrolyte solution because formula is too hard for them to digest. Breast milk, however, is easily digested, and soothing to the intestines, so there is no need for artificial and expensive electrolyte solutions. If a baby gets a respiratory illness, formula may cause even more mucus. In contrast, breast milk contains antibodies to these ailments, as well as being highly digestible and not contributing to excess mucous formation.

67. More sleep for mom

Especially if she sleeps with baby, but even if she doesn't. No bottles to prepare and warm.

68. More sleep for baby

A baby that gets its night time needs met quickly is more likely to get right back to sleep than a baby who has to wait for a bottle while crying and swallowing air.

69. More sleep for dad

Again, even if he helps with baby burping, diapering, and toting, there are no bottles to deal with. Also, breastfed babies tend to need much less burping after the first few months.

70. Less equipment to maintain and store

Those bottles, measuring devices, sterilizing equipment and other gadgets take up a lot of shelf space and need a lot of cleaning.

71. Less equipment to buy

Unless you pump. Even if you do have to buy a pump and the basic bottle kit, the savings in cost of formula and additional medical attention make breastfeeding financially well worth trying.

72. Breast milk has never been recalled

Formula has been, sometimes after causing injury or death.

73. Fresh breast milk is never contaminated with bacteria

In fact, it has antibacterial properties.

74. No need to worry about which brand is better

Each artificial breastmilk formula is different from all its competitors, but none of them come close to duplicating the real thing. It can be very stressful for formula feeding mothers to try to determine which brand is the best of the lot. No matter which formula is used "it is increasingly apparent that infant formula can never duplicate human milk. Human milk contains living cells, hormones, active enzymes, immunoglobulins and compounds with unique structures that cannot be replicated in infant formula." 

(Quoted from FDA pediatric-nutrition researchers at Abbott Laboratories, writing in March, 1994 issue of Endocrine Regulations.)

75. No need to worry about adding contaminated water

Even in the U.S. our water can contain dangerous elements like lead and aluminum. These contaminants can become concentrated if water is boiled to sterilize it before being added to formula.

76. Breastfeeding helps reduce cruelty to farm animals

Less use of cow's milk equals fewer cows equals less opportunity for animal abuse.

77. Facilitates proper dental and jaw development 

"Suckling at the breast is good for a baby's tooth and jaw development. Babies at the breast have to use as much as 60 times more energy to get food than do those drinking from a bottle...As [the babies jaw] muscles are strenuously exercised in suckling, their constant pulling encourages the growth of well-formed jaws and straight, healthy teeth."

The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds

Copyright 1972, 1987 Comstock, Inc., Workman Publishing Co., Inc.

708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

"Among breastfed infants, the longer the duration of nursing the lower the incidents of malocclusion."

Labbok, M.H. "Does Breastfeeding Protect against Malocclusion? An Analysis of the 1981 Child Health Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey". 

American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 1987

78. Breastfed babies get fewer cavities

Bottle-fed babies "are at increased risk for baby bottle caries, a destructive dental condition which occurs when a baby is put to bed with a bottle containing formula, milk, juice or other fluids high in carbohydrates. Extensive dental repair may be required at a cost of thousands of dollars."

Loesche WJ/ "Nutrition and dental decay in infants." Am J Clin Nutr 41; 423-435, 1985

79. Less money spent on corrective orthodontia

If the teeth come in straight, there's no need to fix them.

80. Better speech development

Tongue thrust problems often develop among bottle-fed babies as they try to slow down the flow of milk coming from the artificial nipple. This can lead to speech problems, as well as "mouth breathing, lip biting, gum disease, and a generally unattractive appearance."

The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds

Copyright 1972, 1987 Comstock, Inc., Workman Publishing Co., Inc.

708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

81. Less chance of baby getting eczema

"We conclude that breastfeeding is prophylactic against atopic disease, the effect extending into early adulthood. Breastfeeding for longer than 1 month without other milk supplements offers significant prophylaxis against food allergy at 3 years of age, and also against respiratory allergy at 17 years of age. Six months of breastfeeding is required to prevent eczema during the first 3 years, and possibly also to prevent substantial atopy in adolescence." The differences by infant feeding method were so pronounced that they "suggested an influence of early milk feeding that may exceed the heredity burden.

Saarinen UM, Kajosaari M. "Breastfeeding as prophylaxis against atopic disease: prospective follow-up study until 17 years of age." Lancet. 1995; 346:1065-69.

Eczema was less common and milder in babies who were breast fed (22%) and whose Mothers were on a restricted diet (48%). In infants fed casein hydrolysate, soymilk, or cows milk, 21%, 63% and 70% respectively, developed atopic eczema.

Chandra R.K., "Influence of Maternal Diet During Lactation and the Use of Formula Feed an Development of Atopic Eczema in the High Risk Infants". Br Med J. 1989

82. Breastfed babies have great skin

This is not based on a formal study. Check out the skin of a breastfed baby and see what you think.

83. Less gastrointestinal reflux (Spit-up)

Breastfed neonates demonstrate gastroesophageal reflux episodes of significantly shorter duration that formula fed neonates.

Heacock, H.J. "Influence of Breast vs Formula Milk in Physiologic Gastroesophageal Reflux in Healthy Newborn Infants". 

Jour. Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 1992 January; 14(1): 41-6

84. Easier to clean spit-up stains

O.K. This is only based on a casual survey of a lot of breastfeeding mothers. We notice that the hand-me-down clothes we receive from bottle-fed babies have nasty brown staining all over the collars and fronts. Our breastfed babies never created these sorts of spit-up stains. How many newborn breastfed babies do you see wearing bibs all the time?

85. Breast milk contains no genetically engineered materials

Most consumers are completely unaware of how much genetically engineered food they are consuming because the U.S. government does not require this food to be labeled as such. Genetic ID, a company in Fairfield, Iowa, tested four soy-based baby formulas for genetically engineered ingredients. All four, Carnation Alsoy, Similac Neocare, Isomil and Enfamil Prosobee, tested positive.

(See "Biotechnology's Bounty", M.Burros, N.Y. Times 05/21/97

86. Contains no synthetic growth hormones

Since many cows in the U.S. are now routinely ingesting synthetic growth hormones to artificially increase their milk production, it stands to reason that these hormones are also getting into the U.S. formulas.

87. Lack of breastfeeding associated with multiple sclerosis

Although thought to be multifactorial in origin, and without a clearly defined etiology, lack of breastfeeding does appear to be associated with an increased incidence of multiple sclerosis.

Dick, G. "The Etiology of Multiple Sclerosis." Proc Roy Soc Med 1989;69;611-5

88. Less chance of inguinal hernia

The inguinal canal brings down the spermatic cord and certain vessels to the groin area . A hernia is a defect in the opening where these things pass through from the abdomen to the groin because the canal opening gets too big or tears off. The hernia allows abdominal contents to get down into the groin area.

Breastfeeding is protective against inguinal hernias. For unknown reasons breastfed babies experience significantly fewer of them. Human milk contains gonadotropin releasing hormone, which may affect the maturation of neonatal testicular function. One recent case control study showed breastfed infants had a significant dose response reduction in inguinal hernia. Pisacane, A. "Breast-feeding and inguinal hernia" Journal of Pediatrics 1995: 

Vol 127, No. 1, pp 109-111

89. Better cognitive development

In 771 low birth weight infants, babies whose mothers chose to provide breast milk had an 8 point advantage in mean Bayley's mental developmental index over infants of mothers choosing not to do so.

Morley, R., "Mothers Choice to provide Breast Milk and Developmental Outcome". 

Arch Dis Child, 1988

90. Better social development

The psychomotor and social development of breastfed babies clearly differs from that of bottlefed ones and leads at the age of 12 months to significant advantages of the psychomotor and social capabilities.

Baumgartner, C.,"Psychomotor and Social Development of Breast Fed and Bottle Fed babies During their First year of Life". 

Acta Paediatrica Hungarica, 1984

91. Decreased risk of baby developing urinary tract infections

(Kaiser Permanente: Internal research to determine benefits of sponsoring an official lactation program)

92. Suckling optimizes hand-to-eye coordination

Baumgartner, C., "Psychomotor and Social Development of Breast Fed and Bottle Fed babies During their First year of Life". Acta Paediatrica Hungarica 1984; 25(4): 409-17

93. Protects mothers against anemia (iron deficiency)

Since many exclusively breastfeeding mothers do not begin to menstruate for a year or longer their iron stores are not depleted by monthly bleeding.

94. Less money spent on menstrual supplies

Many breastfeeding moms do not begin to menstruate again until 14 or more months after giving birth. " Multiply this by the four million US births each year to see that over one billion sanitary products annually could be kept out of our nation's landfills and sewers. To compound the scenario, because breastmilk is absorbed by babies more efficiently, breastfed babies excrete less and thus require fewer diaper changes than formula-fed babies."

"Mother Nature Loves Breastmilk" D. Michels, Pub. various periodicals, available on Internet at greenbm.htm

95. Self confidence booster for mom

There is nothing more amazing than looking at a plump six month old baby and knowing that the only nutrition this happy little creature has received has come from your own body.

96. Breast milk is good for combatting eye infections

Breast milk contains natural antibiotic qualities, and many mothers swear that a squirt in the irritated eye of their baby has cleared up the problem in short order.

97. Breast milk is a good natural antibiotic for wounds

98. No worry about latest ingredient discovered to be missing from formula

"Formula" is really a formula for synthetic human milk. There is no real formula that can duplicate human milk because, as the FDA said recognized in a recent statement "...the exact chemical makeup of breast milk is still unknown." 

"Formula-fed infants depend on products which can be quite different from each other, but which are continually being found deficient in essential nutrients... These nutrients are then added, usually after damage has occurred in infants or overwhelming market pressure forces the issue." M. Walker, R.N., International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, The Journal Of Human Lactation, Sept 1993

99. Much nicer diaper changes

The bowel movements of breastfed babies smell mild and inoffensive. The same can not be said about those of formula fed babies. Try changing a few formula fed babies if you are uncertain about wanting to try breastfeeding!

100. Breastfed babies smell fantastic

Again, this is not a scientific study. Their is something almost magical about the scent of your own breastfed baby, whether you're the mother or father involved. Try it, you'll like it!

101. It's what breasts were designed for!

This information is furnished to you by Leslie Burby and ProMoM, Inc. as a public service. 
It is in no way intended as medical advice, or meant to replace the services of a licensed medical professional. 

In which I reconcile my seemingly-at-odds ethics

Would you like to know one of my pet peeves?

When people are single-issue voters/thinkers.

"I vote for the Conservative party because they're pro-life."

"I could never vote for the Democrats because they kill babies."

(Side note on the above: Shall I begin by stating that most Christians are used and played-like-a-fiddle by the Republican party? By waving a pro-life banner or making that a line on their candidate statement, they sew up votes. Never mind that they never DO anything about abortion. Abortion is a dead issue in the Western world and I hate to be the one to break it to you. It's done. It's a law and it's never going away. If a Republican President - and a bossy ideologue one at that, mainly Republican appointed Supreme Court, Republican congress, Republican Senate, Republican mayors and mainly Republican Governors are unable (unwilling?) to bring abortion to repeal, then I'm sad to say for most American evangelicals, it ain't gonna happen. So put that one aside with the other laws you hate and accept it. And then fight it in other ways. You obviously can't repeal it in the court of law, so repeal it in the hearts of the broken. And vote about something that has a snowball's chance in hell of being enacted.)

Here's the thing: before I am anything else - Canadian, Western, Wife, Mother, Daughter - I am a Christ-follower.

Some people have accused me of being anti-life because I don't consider abortion to be a voting issue any longer. They have also accused me of not being a "real Christian" because I am vehemently against the war in Iraq (even those evangelicals that clamour against pacifism with the theology of a "just war" can simply be ignored...this is not a just war and never was.). And I get accused of being an America-hater (isn't America God's chosen nation?) because I think that Bush is a dangerous man. I am against capital punishment. I believe in universal health care. I am pro-life and yet pro-woman. I think that Guantanmo should be closed. And I think that Christians don't read enough.

See here's the thing: I believe, as Christ-followers, that we are called to a consistent ethic of pro-life.

That means wherever there is a choice - even if it's just in my heart of hearts, I choose life.

Beautiful, glorious, messy, disgusting, free-will-filled, humanity-on-its-knees-and-head-raised-with-arms-stretched-out LIFE.

(From Dr. David Gushee) I want to propose today that what has been called the consistent life ethic (or consistent ethic of life, or seamless garment approach) is the best single statement of Christian moral vision currently available on the landscape of Christian thought. It is a perspective that emerges from Scripture, has strong roots in Christian tradition, and is quite relevant to contemporary experience.

(From David Gushee, March 7, 2007)

"Every life means every life, without exception.

That includes two-month-along developing human beings in the womb,

poor babies in Bangladesh,

impoverished children in ghettos,

abused wives and children,

civilians in war zones,

wounded soldiers at Walter Reed,

imprisoned detainees in the war on terror,

aging people living in nursing homes,

mentally handicapped people,

people convicted of heinous crimes.

Everyone.

Therefore, I oppose

abortion,

euthanasia,

war,

murder,

poverty,

abuse,

lack of adequate health care,

torture,

cruelty,

degradation

and the death penalty.

As John Paul II said, our God is a God of life, a God for life. Because I am a Christian, I look for every opportunity to avoid adding more suffering and death to our vicious world. If there is any way to solve a human problem that does not involve creating even one more dead body, I’m for it.

God loves people. He made us with the capacity to flourish. He calls us to love our neighbors. One aspect of that love is helping our neighbors to become all that God made them to be.

Therefore I am pro-human wholeness.

I support

loving and nurturing family life,

racial reconciliation,

restorative justice,

gender equity and

quality education for everyone.

I support the life of culture and the mind,

beauty and the arts,

science and technological advancement in the service of human well-being.

I oppose structures and behaviors that discriminate improperly between groups of people,

block their access to these essentials of human flourishing,

and therefore limit the fulfillment of their God-given potential."

(Me again...)

The things that turn my stomach don't change with someone's nationality. Whether it's an Iraqi baby or a Canadian baby, I long for them to experience life and love and beauty. As a mother, the thought of another child being hurt, abused, bombed, abandoned or neglected can keep me up at night. If I believe it's wrong to torture Canadian citizens, it has to be wrong to torture Afghanis. If I believe it's wrong to underpay a woman, it has to be wrong to underpay a minority. If I believe that I have the right to worship as I choose and not have someone else tell me how to do so, then I have to believe that other religions have the same rights. If I believe that our people have a right to basic needs like food, medical care, shelter and education, then I have to work or contribute to making those things a reality for those that are just as loved by God as I am. If I believe that God has created the world and believes it's good, then I darn well better be a good steward, making wise choices that show my respect for that.

Let me let you in on a secret: Canada, America and the Western world - including the ideal of democracy - are not the hope of the world. God is. And who is the extension or representation - the body, if you will - of Christ here in the beautiful world? We are.

Politicians (even ones claiming to be "born-again Christians, just like you") are not going to save us. Even enacting a law to repeal abortion is not going to save us (if anything it will create desperate women). Agreeing with President Bush as though he is God's chosen one is not going to save lives. Bombing the crap out of Iraq will not lessen terrorism (as evidenced by the chaos and civil war of the country).

We, as ones who claim to know the true Author of life are invited to his activity. We have been invited by God to be a part of making space for Him here and now. Cloistering ourselves from the world because it's either scary or complex will not make space for God in the world.

We bring Hope, Peace and Love with us to the darkest corners of humanity - including our own hidden places.

So get off your ass and make room for life.

In which He is my own personal Jesus

(There's a Johnny Cash song called "Your Own Personal Jesus" that I love. But that doesn't have much to do with this. )

One of my favourite things about out church, is that we take time to celebrate life. Rather than sticking to a schedule and making it such a performance, our pastors and leaders take time to do life as part of worship. They take lots of time for baby dedications, celebrate milestones, tell stories, allow people to ramble through badly worded stories from their mission trips and share community. Church never feels disembodied from The Body there, if that makes sense.

This past Sunday, we celebrated our recent baptisms. Rather than dunking in a tank, our church gathers at English Bay on the Pacific Ocean near the Inukshuk. Then our pastors perform the baptisms in the bay. Sometimes it's rainy and cold but this time it was relatively warm and sunny. Everyone cheers when the person comes up out of the water. Someone takes photos of the baptisms and then, two weeks later, they show all of the photos on a big screen in the church with beautiful music in the background. I have yet to watch one of this baptism slideshows without crying. The joy on each person's face, their elation, the beautiful sense of community being demonstrated - it is very impactful for me.

After the slide show, one of the "baptised" shares a bit more about their journey and what lead them to make that decision to be water-baptised.

This past Sunday, a young woman shared about how her dreams had been dashed when she was rejected by the police academy, a career she'd planned and longed for. She sunk into a depression and was eventually invited to church by a friend. For two years, she came to church and eventually became a Christian. Soon, she decided to be baptised. It was a beautiful story. Clear, articulate and lovely, this young woman was clearly happy and felt connected not only to God but to her Home Group and the church as a whole.

But my favourite part?

She called him "my Holy Spirit".

Not "The Holy Spirit".

"My Holy Spirit."

"My Holy Spirit showed me that I needed to learn to trust and to take this step....My Holy Spirit and I talked it over one night...."

 

I just loved that. It was obviously so real to her, so personal, that it was all her own.

 

After reading "The Shack", my entire concept of the Trinity and my relationship with God has shifted. This young girl at church just turned me another few degrees yesterday.

I can see that God is doing something to my prejudices and pre-conceived ideas. I am being challenged at every corner.

In short, my Jesus is messing with me.

 

In which I baffle the Starbucks Girl: A Play in One Act

Scene:

Starbucks at Main & Terminal. There is a line of about 15 people in a tiny space. The poor girls behind the counter seem flustered and are stomping around. The general feeling is the line is one of boredom, exhaustion and give-me-my-coffee. I have my little thermos because, like any good light-green-environmentalist, I abhor paper cups these days.

Me: Good morning.

Starbucks Girl (SG): HeywhatcanIgetforyou?

Me: I'll have a personal grande Earl Grey tea misto with vanilla. Oh, and a cinnamon bun.

SG (calling the order to the other girl): personalgrandeearlgreyteamistowithvanilla! (to me) Is that all?

Me: No. I'll also have a cinnamon bun.

SG: A what?

Me (slowly so as not to confuse this further): A....cinna....mon....bun...

SG: Huh?

Me (wondering if I am speaking English): A cinnamon bun.

SG (clearly baffled and now frustrated): A WHAT?

Me (getting louder): A CINNAMON BUN.

SG: We don't have those.

Me: Well, you should tell your display case. There's one right here.

SG: (looks into the case, looks back at me, looks back at the case)

Me: On the left. ...... No, your left.

SG: Oh. You mean a cinnamon ROLL. You should have said roll. We don't have cinnamon buns. Just cinnamon rolls.