200,000 - the number of Americans who are hospitalized (on average) each year for the common flu virus.

36,000 - the number of Americans who die each year from complications related to the flu.

5-20% - of the population (US) get’s the flu every year.

250,000- number of people worldwide who die from seasonal influenza every year

Definition: Pandemic; occurring over a wide geographic area and affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population

Now imagine how much quicker flu season would be if we treated the common flu like we are with this strain…which is no worse?!

Sources:
CDC
Harvard Science

So the first ‘probable’ case of Swine Flu has hit Spokane. Probable, because they won’t know for a few days if the dude just has a normal flu or ’swine flu’. I thought swine flu makes your skin bubble and melt but maybe he hasn’t got to that stage yet.

In other news I got an email from youtube letting me know that a video I put up 2 1/2 years ago of Jude smiling may be guilty of copyright infringement because I used 62 seconds of a Police song. 2 1/2 years ago?! Apparently this gives Youtube permission to add advertisements and blocks it from being viewed everywhere except the following locations:
American Samoa, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Cuba, Fiji, France, Germany, Guam, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Mexico, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Papua New Guinea, Puerto Rico, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Spain, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Kingdom, United States, United States Virgin Islands, Vanuatu

Mostly a bunch of islands who probably don’t have the internets anyways and thankfully our embargoes against Cuba don’t cover Copyright Infringement.

If I wasn’t a youth pastor I’d want this job.

The last week has been an interesting one. It started on Monday when I officiated my first memorial service for a woman who attended our church. My interactions with her since we’ve lived here haven’t been more than a ‘hello’ here and there on Sunday morning but two of her daughter said that as her health faded she requested that I would be the one to speak at her memorial service. I was both surprised and honored when asked. After meeting with her family and hearing more about her life I couldn’t help but be amazed at how firm her faith was. Even while she battled cancer in her last days her hope in God gave her peace and confidence.

Then Wednesday came and the birth of my second son. The mystery of love is revealed in a deeper way when you have kids. You realize you can love each one with as much passion and depth as the other and you don’t run out. With his birth my thoughts wander to what kind of man he will become, what passions he’ll have, and what vision will guide his life.

Birth to life, just a blip in history, and this last week couldn’t have made that clearer to me. In what seems a moment my little boy will have a family of his own and I’ll have grey hair and grandchildren. Along the way there will be happiness and joy, tough times and sadness. My hope though, will always remain the same, just as it is with the birth of my son and just as it was for the woman who passed away. Today, Easter Sunday, reminds me of that hope I have and how it is more constant and firm than anything else in life.

This day reminds me of the impact that Jesus sacrifice had on my life and of all those who choose to receive it. The curse of sin and death have no power to loom over my life like a storm on the horizon. Instead of being bogged down with the worries of life and the fears of tomorrow, I can live with a long term perspective and experience joy even when circumstances aren’t happy. I’m not hoping for eternal life with God someday, I’m living it now. I can’t imagine a better way to live and surer foundation for my future.

Thank you Jesus for what you’ve done and what you’re doing in my life!

My second little dude arrived last night weighing in 2 lbs heavier and 2 inches longer than my first! You can check out pics at our family blog.

Shortly after we fell asleep last night Jess and I woke up to a fussy two year old in the other room. After Jess settled him down once, I got to go in for the next go ’round. Seconds after I thought I had accomplished my mission I heard a gurgly coughing noise followed by crying. It wasn’t long before I got a whiff of a distinct smell and realized Jude had just thrown up for the first time.

A few minutes later while I was holding a sick little boy and Jess was cleaning up puke, I became the up close recipient of Jude’s second time (ever) puking as he blew chunks on my shoulder and chest. In the past just smelling puke would make me hurl but fortunately I was able to contain my dinner.

Jude woke up his cheery, talkative self this morning and seem to be fine.

Baby Fouche is overdue and apparently is fine staying in the womb for as long as he can.

ABC’s Nightline recently had a debate on this very question with an interesting panel. While the debate itself didn’t really do much for me I found it interesting and worth watching. (You can see it here)

I found that one person (of the four) had the most concise answers. One person on each side sounded somewhat juvenile and another’s answers were so convoluted and pretentious that they just made me scratch my head. If you watch it I’d be curious to know what you think.

Update: On a similar topic this is kind of interesting.