July Speeches

July 10, 2012 - MADD's Plano Teen VIP located at 900 E. 15th Street, Plano, Texas 75074 at 6:20 pm

July 16, 2012 - Speaking to Farmersville Rotary Club for MADD located at Carlisle Civic Center (201 Orange, Farmersville, Texas 75442) at 12:00 pm

Happy Independence Day!

In honor of Independence Day, I wanted to thank all of our military men and women who have fought and are still fighting for our country and for freedom. May God bless you!

The Hunger Site is a great website that is full of opportunities to stand up for your beliefs and for what is right regarding many economic, social, physical, and personal issues. The website has an area of prepared petitions and all that is needed is your signature.

A petition that caught my attention is titled "Tell the Pentagon It's No Crime to Share Your Faith" and it states:

Several recent events have caused a great deal of alarm among those who are concerned with religious liberty. The heart of this issue is one of conscience and freedom of religion: soldiers who "proselytize" their faith face reprimand or court-martial under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

In a statement, the Pentagon tried to assure the faithful that military personnel would not be court-martialed if they "evangelized." Unfortunately, "proselytizing" and "evangelizing" are virtually synonymous terms, leaving service members vulnerable to a subjective interpretation of the Uniform Code.

This is truly a First Amendment crisis. The First Amendment states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech…". No matter what God one worships, as Americans we all have the sacred right to share our faiths.

Join us in asking Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to remove any prohibitions against proselytizing from the Uniform Code of Military Justice and respect the First Amendment rights of service men and women.

Click here to view and sign this petition!   "Tell the Pentagon It's No Crime to Share Your Faith." The Veterans Site. Web. 4 July 2013.

Garage Sale Fundraiser JUNE 28-29!

We have set a date for our garage sale fundraiser and are kindly asking for garage sale donations, volunteers, and shoppers! We are most in need of big donation items and volunteers for Saturday, June 29th.

Please contact me if interested in helping at tonya.winchester@hotmail.com. Thank you!

June 28-29, 2013
805 Bluffview Dr., McKinney, TX 75071

Details: http://tonyawinchester.com/Garage_Sale_2013.htm

Fundraiser Flyer: http://tonyawinchester.com/Flyers/Garage%20Sale%202013.doc

Fight Hunger & Oppose Congress' SNAP Decision

"Don't let the government make any more cuts to hunger-fighting programs!" (The Hunger Site, 2013).

"More than two million people would be dropped from our food stamp program (SNAP) on September 30 if the current version of the Farm Bill passes. The time to act is NOW!" Visit the Hunger Site and learn more about this issue and sign a petition opposing the Farm Bill.

http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/ths/petition/SNAPFunding

"Fight Hunger and Oppose Congress' SNAP Decision." The Hunger Site. Web. 21 June 2013.

June Speeches

June 2, 2013 - MADD Teen VIP at 7:00 pm located at Allen Municipal Court (301 Century Parkway, Allen, Texas 75013)

June 18, 2013 - MADD Adult VIP at 6:00 pm located at the Salvation Army (600 S. Wilson Creek Parkway, McKinney, Texas 75069)

June 22, 2013 - McKinney YMCA MyChallenge at 12:00 pm located at 300 Ridge Road, McKinney, TX 75070 to at-risk teenagers

Red Cross

My heart goes out to these families and towns. As one of my Meals On Wheels clients put it, "We are one body, united. We are all affected and must pray for one another daily." Makes our daily struggles look insignificant in comparison. May we do more than pray but also learn from this, especially how truly blessed we are, and do what we can to help. Let's be the love our fellow Americans who were impacted by this need!

www.redcross.org

May Speeches

May 21 - MADD Adult VIP at 6:00 pm located at the Salvation Army (600 Wilson Creek Parkway, McKinney, Texas 75069)

May 28 - Sherman High School juniors and seniors at 10:00 am located at 2201 E. Lamar, Sherman, Tx 75090 

Fundraiser #1 for Toby Mills

We are raising funds for Toby Mills, my boyfriend's best friend since middle school, who was in a serious car crash last September and is quadriplegic and paralyzed as a result. Not only is he paralyzed but his injury is much worse than mine. He damaged and nearly severed his C4 spinal cord segment which is very high on the spine (actually in the neck). The area of the spinal cord that is affected and the amount of impact and damage to the spinal cord determines what an injured person can move or feel. The higher the injury level on the spinal cord, the less ability and function a person has. Also, a person with spinal cord injury is classified as either paraplegic or quadriplegic. Paraplegia refers to a person that cannot move (or possibly feel) lower body extremities due to damage in the back. Quadriplegia refers to a person that cannot move (or most likely feel) all or parts of both upper and lower body extremities due to damage in the neck. The high spinal cord damage Toby obtained unfortunately has left him with only the abilities to blink, eat, speak, think, and move both his neck and one forearm (very) slightly. He has lost the abilities to move and feel below his neck and encounters daily struggles with pressure sores, breathing troubles, bladder infections, and loss - loss of independence, privacy, and all the abilities the average person takes for granted. We often think we have it bad, but then comes along someone who has it much worse. Toby spends most of his days in his hospital bed watching T.V., waiting only for night to come and another day of doing the exact same thing.


We are raising funds for:
a) Toby to have a computer with adaptive technology - aide in independence and quality of life
b) Inpatient and at-home rehabilitation - aide in physical health, independence, and quality of life
c) Adaptive equipment and tools for daily living (eating, getting in and out of bed, etc.)

We plan on having on-going fundraisers for Toby as he has many needs and desires and currently does not have insurance. His first fundraiser, "Tools for Toby," is an online fundraiser but is only the beginning! The direct link is http://www.youcaring.com/Tmills.

Ways you can help:
1) Pray
2) Donate money
3) Send Toby or Amber, his girlfriend and caregiver, an encouragement card or helpful resources (9433 Olive St., Princeton, Texas 75407)
4) Share this email and spread the word
5) Help us get more fundraisers started
6) Offer knowledge or help - visiting with him, praying over him, care sitting to give his family a break, etc.
7) Make him and his family meals

We have a couple restaurant fundraisers in the works and will keep you posted on those!

Toby's girlfriend, Amber, has honorably remained by his side. You can contact her at aweglowski21@gmail.com or 469-951-7863.

Father, we lift up Toby and Amber and pray that their faith will not fail but be strengthened. When all they see is struggle and defeat, Father, again, strengthen them. Let them experience you personally. May their eyes and hearts and very being be opened to you and who you are. May they understand how much you love and care for them and how you are there for them and always have been. May they look to you for understanding. Reveal purpose, truth, and guidance to them Holy Spirit. Father, we ask for doors of opportunity, blessing, and healing to be opened to them. We trust you God and thank you for saving Toby and their relationship and for your amazing calling on their lives. I see the greatness you have in store for them and praise you God for that revelation. Father, may their spirits be lifted, encouraged, motivated, and empowered and may your people enter their lives and bless them. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Thank you supporters. May you be eternally blessed.

Life Update

Hello family and friends!


I have been good and just finished another semester of school. I have been at UNT for a year now studying social work and love it! I have been learning so much about people, society, behaviors, and especially, myself. I also have been growing a lot in my faith and spending a great deal of my time volunteering. I have been speaking for MADD since 2009 and for the YMCA since last June. And for a little over a year, I have been volunteering at Meals On Wheels as a "well check" caller to 55 clients every Monday. These three things - school, growth in faith, and volunteering - have opened many doors for me but more importantly, they have been preparing me for the life ahead of me and affirming the personal revelations from God about myself, my future, and my purpose. And I look forward to further opportunities to use my skills and talents once I graduate in May 2016 (from taking only two classes per semester)! My family has also been doing well (minus the major foundation work and sewer leaks in our house)! My boyfriend Billy recently started a new job which he enjoys and my sister Natacha moved to Colorado at the beginning of May with her boyfriend!

This summer I plan to continue volunteering but am interested in gaining experience with the homeless. We have one homeless shelter in my county and it happens to be in my hometown. I am not sure how I can help at the Samaritan Inn but I definitely plan to get plugged in. I also have plans to update my website (three new pages) and create several fundraisers for my boyfriend's best friend who is paralyzed. Be on the look out for his fundraisers!

Community Garage Sale Fundraiser in June

We are raising funds for two important things:
a) A MOTOmed motorized hand-cycle and bicycle ($8,000) - will aide in strengthening, range of motion, and overall physical health
b) Modifications for my van so I can drive and be independent (quoted $30,000-$50,000) - will aide in independence

We are having another community garage sale fundraiser for the "kick-off" fundraiser and are kindly asking for your help!

Ways you can help:
1) Donate items for the garage sale
2) Volunteer (before, during, and/or after [clean-up])
3) Shop at the garage sale
4) Tell your friends and family!
5) Pray

We thank you for your support in the past, now, and in the future. If wanting to help, please email me at tonya.winchester@hotmail.com. Once we get an idea of who is able to help and what days work best for them, I will send a mass email with an attached flyer! We are waning to have the fundraiser in June.



*We are also raising funds for my boyfriend's best friend Toby, who was in a bad car accident last September and is now paralyzed (C4), for him to have a computer with adaptive technology as well as inpatient rehabilitation. We are having trouble getting help from organizations known for helping in these areas and after patiently waiting 7 months, we have decided to take financial matters in our own hands. I will be posting a blog regarding his first fundraiser soon!

I realize that many of you either live far away or are not financially or materially able to help, but we were hoping you could keep us in your thoughts and prayers and spread the word! :)

Thank you so much! God bless!

Go and Be Event - Helping and Meeting the Needs of McKinney Residents

Go and Be is a whole event where we deploy all our 3e McKinney partner churches to make a statement: there's a God in heaven who loves the people of this community, and we get to bring people that news through our humble acts of service. Let's join together as families, groups and as church family to serve our local communities with outrageous service, bringing a little bit of heaven to earth. This year, our primary focus will be on revitalizing one specific area in east McKinney, the Rockwall community. As we partner with the City of McKinney, 3e McKinney, Habitat for Humanity and Volunteer McKinney, we are accepting a God-sized challenge to show the love of Christ by renovating 25-30 homes.

  

April 20, 2013   this will be prep. Day for the projects, cleanup, power washing and some construction and scraping.  Getting ready for the paint to go on the home.

April 27, 2013 will be the big day.  One of the major projects will be painting, also landscaping and maybe some construction.

For those that want to meet the residents and not paint, we will also do surveys that day. I will provide a quick training class on how to complete form so ask for me.  So this is just walking house to house talking and blessing the people of the community.

All events start at 8 am and go to 4pm each day, but come when you can and leave when it is needed.

Please visit the 3e website to sign up as a volunteer or you can contact Leroy Smith.

Tentatively we are supposed to park in a truck parking lot at 800 elm st, mckinney

Smith, Leroy. "Go & Be Event." Message to Tonya Winchester. 15 April 2013. E-mail. 

Thank you for helping!! I can guarantee you will be blessed!!

Encouraging Pastor Warren, His Family, and His Church

Interested in encouraging and helping Pastor Rick Warren (who recently lost his son), his family, and his church? You can!

Statement from Pastor Rick Warren:

Dear Friends,
Kay and I have been overwhelmed by your outpouring of love since Matthew’s tragic death. You are true friends, especially with the vitriol from haters we’ve received. Friends show up when others walk away.
If you missed what happened, click here to read my letter.

You’ve asked, “Is there anything we can do to help you?”

The answer is yes! We could use your help right now in FIVE PRACTICAL WAYS:

1. Sign a petition that urges educators, lawmakers, healthcare, and congregations to raise the awareness and lower the stigma of mental illness, and also to support families that are dealing with mental illness on a daily basis. Thanks for adding your voice!

2. Offer your help and prayers to those around you who are caring for mentally ill family and friends. They need your encouragement more than you realize

3. Fight mental illness with an online gift to The Matthew Warren Fund for Mental Health. Your gift is tax-deductible. Or, you may mail a check to
The Matthew Warren Fund
Saddleback Church
1 Saddleback Parkway
Lake Forest, CA 92630.

4. Send a note of encouragement and sympathy.

Pastor Warren's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pastorrickwarren
Pastor Warren's email: PastorRick@saddleback.com
Or mail a card to the above address.

5. PRAY

We are reading every note. We’d love to hear from you here on Facebook, or you can email us at PastorRick@saddleback.com. Your prayers and words continue to strengthen us.

Pastor Rick

Warren, Rick. "Join Us In the Fight Against Mental Illness." Saddleback Church. 13 April 2013. Web. 15 April 2013. .

Upcoming Speeches

April 19, 2013 - Princeton High School to 3 Health classes from 11:20am - 2:30 pm located at 1000 E. Princeton Drive, Princeton, Texas 75407.

April 20, 2013 - McKinney YMCA MyChallenge at 12:00 pm located at 300 Ridge Road, McKinney, TX 75070 to at-risk teenagers

7 Weeks of Blessing at Covenant Church

April 7, 2013: Kickoff Sunday - Give money to help sponsor kids to attend summer camps

April 14, 2013: Diaper Sunday - Bring diapers & wipes in all sizes

April 21, 2013: Grocery Card Sunday - Bring a gift card to a local grocer in any amount

April 28, 2013: Gas Card Sunday - Bring a gas gift card in any amount

May 5, 2013: School Supply Sunday - Bring any school supplies

May 12, 2013: Meet a Need Sunday - Give money to help fund needs within our community and church

May 19, 2013: Professional Services Sunday - Do you have a service to offer? Are you in need of a service?

To donate any of these items, please drop the items off at the Covenant Church in McKinney
        975 S. Central Expressway, McKinney, TX 75070
        Office hours: Monday - Thursday (9:00-5:00 pm) or Sundays

If you are in need of any of these items or services, please visit the church (the appropriate Sunday) or call at 972-548-2700.

Pastor Rick Warren's Son Passed Away

Pastor Rick Warren's son passed away Saturday after an unfortunate decision to commit suicide. I have never met Pastor Warren or his son but I respect him and his beliefs and have joyfully been subscribed to his daily email devotionals for several years. Please keep Pastor Warren, his family, and his church in your prayers.

http://news.yahoo.com/church-pastor-rick-warrens-son-commits-suicide-211206608.html

Father,

We lift up Pastor Warren, his family, and his church to you and pray in the name of Jesus for your healing power to cover them, guide them, and bring them through this as stronger and greater for your purposes. We ask that you fill them with supernatural strength, endurance, perseverance, courage, and encouragement. In their weakness, sadness, and misunderstanding, may they look to you. May they remain focused on you God, trust that you have their best interest at heart, and grow in unsurpassable ways. Father let them feel your holy presence. At a time when all eyes are on them Father, we pray that their faith will not fail and that their love and trust in you will shine even brighter. Father we pray against all spiritual attack, hindrances, and harm on the family in the name of Jesus and pray for your mighty protection over their minds, hearts, and bodies. We know you have a purpose in this that exceeds our knowledge and we trust in you God for you are good. Father thank you for your love and for answering our prayers. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Palm Sunday

Today is Palm Sunday, the day Jesus fulfilled a prophecy written in Zechariah about the entrance into Jerusalem of the coming king - the Messiah. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people of Jerusalem, familiar with Scrpture and witnesses of Jesus' miracles, teachings, and authority, threw their coats and palm branches on Jesus' path shouting in praise, "Hosanna in the highest!" Hosanna means save us now and essentially became a cry of praise. These people believed Jesus was the coming king but thought he was going to save them right then from the Romans. Jesus, following the will of his Father, instead had a much greater plan; a plan that these people could not yet comprehend.

Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Good Friday is the day these same people dispised, betrayed, mocked, and rejected Jesus, ultimately leading to his blood being shed on the cross for our sins. Easter Sunday is the day Jesus rose from the dead, overcoming the world and purchasing our freedom with his blood.

Matthew 21:1- (NIV)

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

“Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’"

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”



SaMmM123. "Hillsong - Hosanna (High Quality)." Youtube. March 2008.

Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQGJdTpMUcU to watch the video.

Hosanna in the highest!

Please Take My Survey

I am conducting a survey for my Human Behavior II class and would greatly appreciate your participation. It is completely anonymous!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/F2LV2GL

Thanks!

Deadly Deception Critique

If you receved this blog posit in your email, please visit my blog or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCYdI2b_9Vs to watch the Deadly Deception documentary.

          The Deadly Deception is an insightful documentary about the controversial Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male conducted for 40 years on poor African American men in Macon County, Alabama. During the 1920s, 300,000 individuals fell victim to syphilis every year and experienced symptoms of pain, fever, and rashes in the early stages and blindness, arthritis, heart disease, dementia, and even death in the late stages if untreated. Determined to stop the further spreading of this disease by treating and curing it, the U.S. Public Health Service authorized six treatment projects, performed by government doctors, in predominantly poor African American infected communities. After unexpectedly exhausting government funds, five of the projects in effect came to a halt while the sixth altered shape completely, changing the purpose to solely studying syphilis, the method to withholding treatment, and the participants’ status into “experimental subjects” without informed consent.
          The U.S. Public Health Service wanted to attain some benefit from the program so they strived to test the theory that there are essential genetic differences among the races as well as the belief that the syphilis disease in blacks was not deadly by determining whether the syphilis disease was the same disease in both whites and blacks. In Macon County, test results revealed an alarming 35 percent syphilis infection rate among the black population. Furthermore, the study uncovered that the disease creates the same symptoms for both races which confounded the medical world and motivated a long open-ended continuation of the study. From this moment on, the 400 men of Macon County under study were deceived and it was not until another long 39 years that the truth was unveiled. These men were deceived by their government, church, school (Tuskegee Institute), and employers who took advantage of their social locations in addition to their child-like trust in and respect for honorable authority and institutions. From the promise of care and free treatment in addition to the diligent strive of the U.S Public Health Service to help these men, they assumed that the government had their best interest in mind and truly wanted to treat them. The men in this study were racially, socially, physically, and medically at a disadvantage and were not ones to question motives or merits or speak up for themselves.
          Concealed truths behind the experiment include unconcern for the men of study; the true nature of the experiment, its open-endedness, its dangers, and their illness; that “bad blood” really meant infection with the syphilis disease; and that the criteria to which these men were chosen was based on prejudice, racism, and social and economic disadvantage. The men of Macon County were not told the true nature of the experiment because the U.S. Public Health Service wanted to break new scientific ground with this disease and felt that (1) telling would interfere with the study by subjects not agreeing to participate and (2) would only bring negative attention, perceptions, and consequences toward them. The U.S. Public Health Service, however, had many occurrences which should have shed light on the unethicalness of this study such as the external and internal symptoms of infection; the 1936 findings that a significant amount of the subjects suffered from late syphilis, cardiovascular problems, and neurological problems; the U.S. Public Health Service campaign launch to combat syphilis and issue of informed consent guidelines; the passing of the National Venereal Disease Control Act; the effectiveness of penicillin in treating syphilis; the evidence that some of the men were dying from late syphilis; the Nürnberg horrors and trial; the civil rights movement; and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention panel convention.
          The ultimate finding of the Tuskegee Study corroborated existing data about the natural and deadly course of syphilis and detected negative results for differing forms of the disease among the races. The main idea behind this movie is to display the importance of ethics in social research as well as keeping personal values, biases, and agendas out of social research. I find this experiment wrong on the same grounds as Attorney Fred Gray did wherein the U.S. Public Health Service violated the rights of the men in this study. They had the right to know that there was a study, what “bad blood” actually meant and its full symptoms, and that they were not receiving treatment and should have been given the ultimate decision as to whether or not they wanted to participate. This experiment not only had consequences for the men in the study but also for the greater society. It is a profound example of medical misconduct; demonstrates why so many people distrust doctors, the government, institutions, and white Americans; and proves how prejudice, discrimination, hatred, and oppression can negatively affect medicine, science, and research.

Winchester, Tonya. University of North Texas. February 2012.

Upcoming Speech

February 16, 2013 - McKinney YMCA MyChallenge at 12:00 pm located at 300 Ridge Road, McKinney, TX 75070 to at-risk teenagers.

Speech in January

January 5, 2013 - McKinney YMCA MyChallenge at 12:00 pm located at 300 Ridge Road, McKinney, TX 75070 to at-risk teenagers.

Upcoming Speeches

December 4, 2012 - MADD Allen Teen VIP at 7:00 pm located at 301 Century Parkway, Allen, TX 75013.

December 8, 2012 - McKinney YMCA MyChallenge at 12:00 pm (or possibly 11:00 am) located at 300 Ridge Road, McKinney, TX 75070 to at-risk teenagers.

The Gift of Christmas

Want to bless a child this Christmas? Through World Help, you can bless an orphan with a Christmas gift for only $5 a child (covers the shipping of the Christmas box). This is an amazing organization which really seeks to "help" the world. "Something so simple can bring a level of joy only a child can fully understand. Giving to ship Christmas for Orphan boxes is an easy way of showing love. The look on a child's face is priceless as they receive their first—and very own—gifts" (World Help, 2012). They provide many other great ways to help as well and let you specifically choose a service or need! Visit http://goh.worldhelp.net/cfao/ to gift a Christmas box to a orphan and http://goh.worldhelp.net/ for other gifting options. You will make a "world" of a difference!

For the daily needs of impoverished children/families:
- Immunizations
- Bedding
- Shoes
- Coats
- Life saving supplies including food and clean drinking water
- Mosquito nets
- Wheelchair
- Operation Baby Rescue & Child Sponsorship

For school and education:
- School scholarships
- Books and supplies
- Uniforms (some kids cannot attend school without a uniform)
- Sports equipment
- Rooms to learn
- Sewing Machines
- Welding equipment
- Hair styling tools and products

Sustainability for a family:
- Livestock (Goats, Pigs, Cows, Sheep, Chickens, or Rabbits)
- Fruit trees
- Beehives
- Harvest-producing seeds
- Bicycles

Community & Spiritual Development:
- Bibles
- A church
- A home
- A clean-water project

Upcoming Speeches

November 14, 2012 - MADD Plano Teen VIP at 6:20 pm located at 900 E 15th Street, Plano 75074.

November 17, 2012 - McKinney YMCA MyChallenge at 1:00 pm located at 300 Ridge Road, McKinney, TX 75070 to at-risk teenagers.

November 28, 2012 - MADD McKinney Adult VIP at 6:00 pm located at 2100 Bloomdale Road, McKinney 75071. 

Nobel Prize for Adult Stem Cell Discovery

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Scientists from Britain and Japan shared a Nobel Prize on Monday for the discovery that adult cells can be transformed back into embryo-like stem cells that may one day regrow tissue in damaged brains, hearts or other organs.

 

John Gurdon, 79, of the Gurdon Institute in Cambridge, Britain and Shinya Yamanaka, 50, of Kyoto University in Japan, discovered ways to create tissue that would act like embryonic cells, without the need to collect the cells from embryos.

They share the $1.2 million Nobel Prize for Medicine, for work Gurdon began 50 years ago and Yamanaka capped with a 2006 experiment that transformed the field of "regenerative medicine" - the search for ways to cure disease by growing healthy tissue.

"These groundbreaking discoveries have completely changed our view of the development and specialization of cells," the Nobel Assembly at Stockholm's Karolinska Institute said.

All of the body starts as stem cells, before developing into tissue like skin, blood, nerves, muscle and bone. The big hope is that stem cells can grow to replace damaged tissue in cases from spinal cord injuries to Parkinson's disease.

Scientists once thought it was impossible to turn adult tissue back into stem cells. That meant new stem cells could only be created by taking them from embryos, which raised ethical objections that led to research bans in some countries.

As far back as 1962 Gurdon became the first scientist to clone an animal, making a healthy tadpole from the egg of a frog with DNA from another tadpole's intestinal cell. That showed that developed cells carry the information to make every cell in the body - decades before other scientists made world headlines by cloning the first mammal from adult DNA, Dolly the sheep.

More than 40 years later, Yamanaka produced mouse stem cells from adult mouse skin cells by inserting a small number of genes. His breakthrough effectively showed that the development that takes place in adult tissue could be reversed, turning adult tissue back into cells that behave like embryos.

Stem cells created from adult tissue are known as "induced pluripotency stem cells", or iPS cells. Because patients may one day be treated with stem cells from their own tissue, their bodies might be less likely to reject them.

"The eventual aim is to provide replacement cells of all kinds," Gurdon's institute explains on its website.

"We would like to be able to find a way of obtaining spare heart or brain cells from skin or blood cells. The important point is that the replacement cells need to be from the same individual, to avoid problems of rejection and hence of the need for immunosuppression."

In just six years, Yamanaka's paper has already been cited more than 4,000 times in other scientists' work.

In a news conference in Japan, he thanked his team of young researchers: "My joy is very great. But I feel a grave sense of responsibility as well."

Gurdon spoke of his own unlikely career as a young man who loved science but was steered away from it at school, only to take it up again at university.

He still keeps an old school report in a frame on his desk: "I believe he has ideas about becoming a scientist... This is quite ridiculous," his teacher wrote. "It would be a sheer waste of time, both on his part and of those who have to teach him."

EARLY STAGES

The science of iPS cells is still in early stages. Among concerns is the fear that implanted cells could grow out of control and develop into tumors.

Some scientists say stem cells from embryos may prove more useful against disease than iPS cells, and the ethics of working with embryos should be defended.

Nevertheless, since Yamanaka published his findings the discoveries have already produced advances. The techniques are being used to grow cells in laboratories to study disease, the chairman of the awards committee, Urban Lendahl, told Reuters.

"You can't take out a large part of the heart or the brain or so to study this, but now you can take a cell from, for example, the skin of the patient, reprogramme it, return it to a pluripotent state, and then grow it in a laboratory," he said.

"The second thing is for further ahead. If you can grow different cell types from a cell from a human, you might - in theory for now but in future hopefully - be able to return cells where cells have been lost."

Thomas Perlmann, Nobel Committee member and professor of Molecular Development Biology at the Karolinska Institute said: "Thanks to these two scientists, we know now that development is not strictly a one-way street."

"There is lot of promise and excitement, and difficult disorders such as neurodegenerative disorders, like perhaps Alzheimer's and, more likely, Parkinson's disease, are very interesting targets."

For now, both men said their scientific work continues.

Asked why he still keeps his schoolteacher's discouraging report, Gurdon said: "When you're having problems, like when an experiment doesn't work - which often happens - it's nice to remind yourself that perhaps after all you're not so good at this job and the schoolmaster may have been right."

(Reporting by Patrick Lannin, Alistair Scrutton, Ben Hirschler, Kate Kelland, Kiyoshi Takenaka, Chris Wickham and Peter Graff; writing by Peter Graff; editing by Philippa Fletcher)

Ringstrom, Anna. "UK, Japan Scientists Win Nobel for Adult Stem Cell Discovery." Yahoo! News. 8 October 2012. Web. 8 October 2012. .

Pink in the Rink Fundraiser Benefiting Mary Kay Foundation

Please join us on Friday, November 2nd to cheer on the Allen Americans vs Tulsa Oilers! A portion of the tickets will benefit the Mary Kay Foundation!

Purchase tickets: https://www.formstack.com/forms/?1270334-9Dv2VEl8Ey

Please visit the website to find out more information about The Mary Kay Foundation: www.marykayfoundation.org

Thank you for taking the time to read and consider this information in making the decision to help support the Mary Kay Foundation.

Upcoming Speeches

October 17, 2012 - MADD McKinney Adult VIP from 6:00-8:00 pm located at 2100 Bloomdale Road, McKinney 75071.

October 20, 2012 - I am teaming up with Teen Court and speaking at the McKinney YMCA to at-risk teenagers located at 300 Ridge Road, McKinney, TX 75070 at 1:00 pm.

Urgent Prayer Request

Two nights ago, a good friend of Billy's (my boyfriend) was in a bad car crash and is now paralyzed with a complete C6-7 spinal cord injury (exactly what I have). He is currently at Parkland Hospital in the ICU.

Father, we lift up Toby to you and praise You God for his life. We pray God that You will guide the hands and tests of the doctors and bless Toby with a miraculous recovery in the name of Jesus. God, reveal Yourself to him and his family in a fresh new way. May they learn of Your grace, love, and goodness and may they learn who their God is through this tragic situation. Speak to them God and protect his children as they search for answers. God, we know You have a special plan for Toby and I pray that Your will be done in his life. Father, prepare and strengthen Toby and his family for the road ahead. Give them endurance and help them to persevere. We refuse the report of the world and release the report of the Lord. Cover him and his room with Your healing and guiding spirit. Father, we pray for strength, sensations, movements, and all abilities to return in the name of Jesus. Holy Spirit, awaken his body. Awaken his spinal cord we pray in the name of Jesus. I pray that his girlfriend be encouraged and feel Your spirit. Help her through this as well. Thank you God again, for saving Toby. May he grab hold of this second chance and arise as the man You created him to be. I pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

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Upcoming Speech

September 19, 2012 - MADD McKinney Adult VIP at 6:00 pm located at 2100 Bloomdale Road, McKinney 75071.

Best Superfoods for Weight Loss

1. Black beans
"A cup of black beans packs a whopping 15 grams of satisfying protein and doesn't contain any of the saturated fat found in other protein sources, like red meat."

2. Oats
"Oats are rich in fiber, so a serving can help you feel full throughout the day. Just a half cup packs 4.6 grams of Resistant Starch, a healthy carb that boosts metabolism and burns fat."

3. Avocados
"Oleic acid, a compound in avocados' healthy monounsaturated fats (MUFAs), may trigger your body to actually quiet hunger. The creamy fruit is also packed with fiber and protein."

4. Salmon
"Lean sources of protein help you feel full without adding fat."

5. Blueberries
"Best known for their anti-aging effects, blueberries, while tiny, are a powerful figure-friendly eat" and are packed with fiber.

6. Broccoli
"Cooked or raw, this cruciferous veggie is well-known for its cancer-preventing powers, but with a punch of filling fiber in less than 30 calories a serving, it's bound to prevent weight problems too."

7.  Brown rice
"Brown rice is a heartier, fiber-packed alternative to less-than-super white rice [and is a Resistant Starch]. . . Plus, brown rice is a low-energy-density food, meaning it's heavy and filling but low in calories."

8. Pears
"Just one pear packs 15% of your daily recommended amount of fiber. . . Ditch the peeler though; the skin is where all that filling fiber is hiding"

9.  Wine
"Resveratrol, the famed antioxidant found in grape skin, stops fat storage."

10. Grapefruit
"A compound in the tangy fruit can lower insulin, a fat-storage hormone, and that can lead to weight loss. It's also a good source of protein, and because it's at least 90% water, it can fill you up so you eat less."

11. Kidney beans
"One of several varieties of beans to make the list, red beans offer protein and fiber (more than 5 grams per serving!). Kidney beans are also rich in Resistant Starch."

12. Almonds
Almonds "are another superfood rich in healthy fats that help you slim down."

13. Green tea
"This steamy sip hydrates like water, which can help fill you up and shed pounds. Plus, the antioxidants in green tea will up your fat burn and calorie burn. One study found that five cups a day could help you lose twice as much weight, most of it around your middle."

14.  Lentils
"Lentils are a great source of satiating protein and fiber . . . [and are also] a Resistant Starch."

15. Bananas
Bananas are a great Resistant Starch.

16. Eggs
"Eggs get a bad rap when it comes to weight loss. But the breakfast staple is loaded with protein that will curb your appetite."

17. Dark chocolate
"A nibble of dark chocolate here and there can slow down digestion so you feel full longer and eat less at your next meal. Dark chocolate is full of MUFAs; studies show eating a diet high in these healthy fats can rev your metabolism to burn fat and calories.

18. Oranges
"At only 59 calories, you may not expect much from an orange, but thanks to a hefty dose of fiber, it ranks highest among fruits on a list of 38 filling foods put together by Australian researchers. Feeling full can help you eat less throughout the day."

19. Potatoes
"True, potatoes are high in carbs, but they are three times as filling as a slice of white bread, and top all the foods on the same satiety index as oranges. Plus, potatoes are also rich in Resistant Starch."

20. Pine nuts
"These tiny bites pack the same heart-healthy fatty acids that quell hunger hormones and burn belly fat."

21. White beans
"One-half cup of these fiber-packed beans contains almost 4 grams of fat-blasting Resistant Starch."

22. Cheese
"Fresh goat cheese and feta contain a fatty acid that helps you feel full and burn more fat. Look for cheeses labeled "grass-fed," as those will have the highest content of this healthy fat."


23. Low-fat milk
"The same fatty acid [in cheese] is found in milk, and milk's proteins can keep you feeling satisfied" Plus, milk is a great source of calcium.

24. Garbanzo beans (Chickpeas)
"These slimming beans pack more than 2 grams of Resistant Starch per half-cup serving. They're also a great source of fiber, protein, and healthy fats."

25. Pearl barley
"This starchy side makes a slimming complement to a low-cal meal by adding some satisfying fiber and nearly 2 grams of Resistant Starch in just a half-cup serving."

26. Quinoa
"Another diet-friendly whole grain, quinoa is rich in hunger-fighting protein. You'll stay full longer on fewer calories and avoid overeating at other meals."

27. Plantains
"A half cup of cooked plantains packs almost 3 grams of Resistant Starch."

"Best Superfoods for Weight Loss." Health Magazine. Web.  7 September 2012. http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20475957,00.html.

Hurricane Isaac Aftermath

As we sit in the comfort of our own homes, let us keep in mind those who are experiencing devastation from Hurricane Isaac whether it be themselves, their homes, or their towns. 

Father, I pray for Your protection over Your people. May they feel Your loving presence and be encouraged, comforted, and guided through this difficult time. Give them endurance Lord, strength, and perseverance. Father, open doors for them and provide them with shelter, food, clean water, clothes, and stability. We pray for them to be blessed with even more than what has been damaged or lost. Lift their spirits Lord and introduce people in their lives who know You God and are filled with Your love and firm in their faith. I pray that their love and willingness to help will shine and lead to many salvations. We pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

AP Photo/Eric Day. "Isaac's Aftermath." Yahoo! News. 31 August 2012. Web. 4 September 2012. http://news.yahoo.com/photos/tropical-storm-isaac-slideshow/residents-evacuate-flooded-neighborhood-thursday-aug-30-2012-photo-103830646.html.

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