Beagle dogs

Well, I had a appointment with my doctor this last week and she prescribed a
salve for a "skin irritation" I had. The medicine came and for some unknown
reason I actually started reading the little sheet of paper that came with
it. "Most" of the time I do not do this, but I did this time. Part of the
sheet titled "CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY" read this way: The cream "was applied
dermally to intact or abraded skin of Beagle dogs for 28 consecutive
days.there were no detectable plasma levels."

I don't know about you, but I like Beagle dogs, I had one once named "Dolly"
and she was a sweetheart. OK, so I had a couple of thoughts about this.
First, am I using "dog medicine" or second, how is the dog going to tell
them if they have a reaction they feel, but the lab guys can't see? You see,
this statement really didn't make me feel better. When I read on to the
"CONTRAINDICTIONS" section, they didn't even mention the Beagle dogs or how
they felt after using the cream. However under the "PRECAUTIONS" section I
did learn that "Wistar rats showed no evidence (did not seem to) produce
cancer." However they are unsure as to what effect it might have on the milk
of nursing mothers.

I understand that they have to test this stuff on something, but there just
might be some things that it would be better to leave off these little
information sheets.

That's the problem with mankind trying to heal ourselves, it seems that
there is always a sacrifice of some kind by someone. More times that we like
to, we hear about some medicine being recalled because of "adverse side
effects."

Wouldn't it be great if we had someone practicing making people better
without the "adverse side effects?" But wait, we do don't we? His name is
Jesus! Granted he is not here to lay his hands on folks anymore or make mud
and put it in their eyes or to heal their leprosy, but that's only the
physical part of things, not the part that really matters.

Jesus reminded his followers in Matthew 6:19-21, "Lay not up for yourselves
treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves
break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break
through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be
also."

As Christians we come to understand that it is not life on earth that really
matters, but rather our life after we leave this earth, the time we get to
experience God and His love first hand. All we do must be in preparation for
that time when our physical body gives out. I love the verses Paul writes in
Romans 8:35-39 to encourage folks. Notice again what he says. "As it is
written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as
sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death
nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor
any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our
Lord."

Yes, I'll try and take care of this body as best I can for as long as I can,
even with dog medicine if necessary. But what I'm really looking forward to
is that time when I won't need any of that kind of stuff anymore. That new
heaven, and that new worry free body! I REALLY feel better knowing that!

Russ Lawson