The Baby Blog Week in Review for December 23-29

Posted on December 30, 2006 by Heather Long

It’s been crazy this month here in the Baby Blog and we haven’t always been as on top of things as I would have liked to be. We’ll be making some changes here in January in order to bring you the best we can on time and every day. In the meanwhile, let’s take a look at our last week here in December of 2006 as we get ready to welcome the Baby New Year. Saturday, December 23 In The Women in Our Lives and The Men in Our Lives we looked at the fact that we need the men … Continue reading →

To Circumcise or Not?

Posted on December 28, 2006 by Heather Long

Do you have a little boy? Did you have him circumcised? I don’t talk about this particular topic very often because I don’t have a baby boy. This choice and option is not something I had to consider because we found out we were having a girl during the fourth month of my pregnancy. But I have two nephews and I have watched my sister-in-law have to make this decision. I’ve also seen the problems my youngest nephew experienced in the last year since his circumcision as some of the remaining foreskin adhered around the head of the penis and … Continue reading →

San Francisco Circumcision Ban Removed from Ballot

Posted on July 29, 2011 by Libby Pelham

Circumcision has come under fire lately. Actor Russell Crowe went on a Twitter rant last month about circumcision. Crowe started the tweet with “Circumcision is barbaric and stupid. Who are you to correct nature? Is it real that GOD requires a donation of foreskin? Babies are perfect.” It got even nastier as his second tweet, calling circumcision “Hygenic?” then said if people wanted to be hygienic they should sew up their…um, butts, only he didn’t put it quite as nicely. Crowe quickly issued a public apology, saying “wasn’t intending offense, certainly wasn’t intending to provide fodder for lazy journalists. I … Continue reading →

The Pros and Cons of Circumcision

Posted on May 4, 2009 by Mary Ann Romans

When you have a boy, you need to make a decision about whether or not you will have him circumcised. For a few parents, the decision is easy to make, based on their own religious tradition or personal convictions. But for most parents, it is a decision that requires at least a bit of thought. Do you believe that all males should be circumcised or not? Here are some pros and cons. Health and Hygiene Many people who decide on circumcision do it because of a desire to keep their child healthy. In fact, a circumcised penis is easier to … Continue reading →

Does It Matter What You Believe?

Posted on April 1, 2009 by Dale Harcombe

In Philippians 3 we saw our confidence needs to be in Jesus. This flies in the face of much popular thought today, which tells us ‘it doesn’t matter what you believe so long as you believe in something’ and that ‘all roads ultimately lead to God.’ This is not what the Bible, teaches. And the Bible is our authority because it is not the words of men but it is God speaking to us. People can be sincere in their beliefs, but be sincerely wrong. Paul found that out. He was a sincere. He was not only a Jew trusting … Continue reading →

A Very Special Bris

Posted on August 7, 2008 by Miriam Metzinger

On Tuesday, we were privileged to make our son’s bris or circumcision ceremony. (b’h) According to Jewish law, a child should be circumcised the 8th day after birth, so long as he is healthy. We do not know the reason behind the mitzvah of circumcision; Abraham, the first Jew, was commanded by G-d to circumcise himself and since then, a circumcision is necessary to enter the covenant of Abraham. Since the bris ceremony was held during the Nine Days of Av, a time of mourning for the Holy Temple, we ate fish instead of meat. We were very happy to … Continue reading →

Thoughts on Birthing and the Ideal Era

Posted on July 31, 2008 by Miriam Metzinger

Well, I get a mazal tov. We just had a baby boy on Tuesday, thank G-d! (we Chassidim say Thank G-d not just when getting through danger, but whenever we see a blessing in our lives). He is 6 pounds and beautiful and I am so grateful we got through fine. Every baby is truly a miracle. According to our tradition, we do not officially give a boy a name until the baby is circumcised, eight days after birth. But I will speak about the name and naming in general when this day arrives G-d willing after next Tuesday. I … Continue reading →

How To Handle Differences Of Opinion In Church

Posted on August 1, 2007 by Dale Harcombe

Today we’re going look at a church in New Testament times. As you read, think about how your behavior and your church stacks up against this model in Acts 15:1-35. There are always those who come into a church situation seeking to cause trouble. This is exactly what happened here. Men, possibly Pharisees, came down from Antioch and started to teach Gentile believers that they had to be circumcised, verse 1. These men wanted to add extra conditions to the gospel message. This brought them into dispute with Paul and Barnabas, verse 2. There are those today who want to … Continue reading →

Newborn Screening Tests

Posted on February 9, 2007 by Valorie Delp

I had recently written a blog about some parents who had refused (or tried to delay) their baby’s newborn screening tests on the basis of religious beliefs. I thought it would be appropriate to take some time to talk about what exactly newborn screening tests screen for. Newborn screening is the practice of testing every newborn infant for certain disorders some of which, if left untreated, could lead to mental retardation. Most of these disorders are known as metabolic disorders that prohibit or interfere with the way the body uses nutrients. Newborn screening tests also screen for disorders that have … Continue reading →