This is one reason that I am unashamedly pro sex-education. In 1995 I went from full-time to part-time practice as a GP, and am now helping to develop a variety of parent-friendly materials including books, training courses, videos - and most recently a CD-ROM, on various aspects of family life,...
Hypnos was the Greek god of sleep and his name gives us the words 'hypnosis' (a particular mental state) 'hypnotism' and 'hypnotherapy' (related processes). It also gives us the familiar pharmacological term 'hypnotic' for a drug used to induce sleep. We understand surprisingly little medically about hypnosis, and it has...
Those of us who have been involved in pro-life debates have at regular intervals been confronted with the arguments relating to the use of fetal tissue in transplantation. Does a Christian belief allow us to become involved in fetal transplantation or should we oppose its use? Before considering the moral...
John's disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?' When the men came to Jesus, they said, 'John the Baptist sent us to you to...
Dave was 38 years old and lived alone in a council flat. He was diagnosed HIV positive in 1990. When I visited him he was virtually bed-bound due to severe muscle wasting, weight loss and diarrhoea. He was extremely weak and hardly eating or drinking. Although we had not met...
I would like to change my 'prayer-life' to a 'life-of-prayer'. This is not mere sophistry. Prayer should not be restricted to that half hour before bed, or even a pious hour in the early morning. It is something that should be so natural for the Christian, and as essential, as...
What's as readable as a 'Boys Own Annual', as gripping as a nervous rock climber and as stirring as Mark Anthony's speech in Julius Caesar? Answers on a postcard please to: The Secure Unit, Aberdeen Asylum for the Criminally Insane, Scotland. (hint- see above) With the possible exception of C...
There have been some remarkable injuries in the history of sports medicine but this is one of the most dramatic. During his gruelling and prolonged wrestling contest Jacob's hip was 'wrenched' (v 25) by his opponent and was almost certainly 'put out of joint' (v 25 RSV) or dislocated. It...
Why believe the Bible? Nitpickerus: I'm not at all sure about the Bible Dionysius. Is it really that important to accept its authority? Dionysius: Do you accept the authority of Christ? Nitpickerus: Of course. Dionysius: Well, belief in the authority of the New Testament follows logically from belief in the authority of...
This issue of Nucleus nearly met with disaster. I had been out to a restaurant after exams, and was cycling back along the Strand with the proofs on my back carrier- when a taxi driver began hooting at me incessantly. I turned round and realised to my horror that Nucleus...
Answers God's ordinances come out of the mouth, but are sweeter than honeycomb... and more precious than gold. (Ps 19:9-10) The writer of Proverbs likens the adulterer to a man walking on hot coals. Actions have consequences, and sin always leads to judgement, often in this life. (Pr 6:27-29; Ps 7:11)...
A resident longing to sleep Neglected to answer his bleep And left it instead, near the foot of his bed Unaware of what harvest he'd reap The nurse undeterred by his snoozing (Assuming he'd spent the night boozing) Kept ringing his number, to rouse him from slumber But found herself steadily losing The patient's condition was...