Isn't there a problem with disease spreading, w/i our churches

It should be a big worry, and I don't mean to argue this point to death, but why do you think that public restrooms have signs reminding employees of the REQUIREMEMT of washing their hands after using the restroom?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that handwashing is “the single most effective way to prevent the transmission of disease.”
http://community.nursingspectrum.com/MagazineArticles/article.cfm?AID=11546

Medical studies do show that the incidence of colds and flu are significantly decreased when hands are washed frequently. Our hands are our primary way of picking up germs, not the air (unless you happen to be right in front of someone who sneezes or coughs).

As far as cancers are concerned, we all have wayward cells in our bodies and our bodies usually take care of them and eliminate them quietly and effeciently. However there is also evidence that this janitorial effeciency can be disrupted by illnesses or even, possibly, some viruses which don't even cause actual illness. So while cancers are not caused by germs, those germs can compromise the body's ability to deal with its own clean-up operations.

All that being said, we have a profoundly retarded 21 year old son who rarely gets sick at all. I am sure it is because he has eaten so much dirt!

Maybe dirt is healthier than hands?

At any rate, at least, folks, wash your hands frequently. And antibacterial soap is NOT a bad thing! http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=2002AGUSMED42A..06C&db_key=PHY&data_type=HTML&format=

While I'm lecturing... ... wear socks when it's cold out. Sandals may seem classy or macho or whatever, but the lymph nodes in the feet (or anywhere in the body) tend to slow down white cell production (these cells fight illnesses) when cold and speed them up when warm. That is one reason why low fevers should not be 'treated.' A warm body is more disease resistant and more able to fight off illnesses than a cold one, and the feet are a significant part of that.

So while being chilly and/or having cold feet won't 'cause' you to get sick, they do interfere with your body's ability to fight off the illnesses which you are exposed to everyday.

 

Because restrooms have more exposure to fecal coliform and related bacteria in higher numbers. Please don't ask me to explain why that is so

While fecal coliform is commonly found just about everywhere, the risk of coming into contact with it by shaking hands is not much greater thant simply being in a pew next to someone. To compare compare exposure from a restroom to exposure from a handshake is not a fair comparison.

 

Granted, but allow me to repeat"
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that handwashing is “the single most effective way to prevent the transmission of disease.”
http://community.nursingspectrum.com/MagazineArticles/article.cfm?AID=11546

And that is NOT just after going to the bathroom!

 

I am yet to hear of someone dying from shaking hands. I'd hate it if our churches became like the rest of the world: Cold and disconnected. I think the human touch (shaking hands) is an important element of human communication. It helps to convey love and concern for our fellow man. Fellowship with other believers is invaluable to the execution of the Great Commission and I would be greatly saddened if the fellowship I very much enjoy and promote were tainted by what could be viewed by newbies as paranoia.

So you'll know me when you meet me: I'll be the one reaching out to shake your hand!

[ November 17, 2005, 12:46 PM: Message edited by: DeadMan ]

 

No argument here.

¡¡Lava Las Manos!!

 

In January 2004 I took a cruise on a Holland American line ship.
I noticed a sign on a phone in the hall for the crew:
"Crew: Use hand-wipe before using phone".

In January 2005 I took anothe cruise on a Holland American
line ship. At each eating place just outside the door,
was an automatic hand wash. Just put your hand under the
body of the hand wash. An infrared motion detector sees
your hand. A squirt of antibacterial liquid squirts on your
hand. You rub your hands together.

I haven't' heard of a Holland American line ship coming back
to port with 200-600 sick passengers.

My step-brother who goes to my church likes to shake his own
hand. He turns one upside-down and shakes up & down.
The proper response is to shake yours likewise.
This process is lot less germy than shaking the hand of others.

My Youth Minister had lukemia. He took some heavy duty, in
hospital chemo. He didn't shake hands for like 6 weeks after
he got cured. The chemo stripped his auto-immune system, but
did cure him of the Lukemia.

So here is the routine for greeting time at church:
1. drop a drop of SWEET BREATH speriment drops on my tongue
(in case i've got bad breath)
2. go shake hands
3. when I get back to my pew, used my PURELL 'instant hand sanitizer'.

 

I would respectfully declare to you that many deaths each year started out from a handshake. And countless colds and the like. Just gladly shake everyones hand, get in your car and infect the steering wheel, and shifter knob, the radio dial, then when you get home, your door knob and the bathroom door knob then the two faucet handles, as you wash up. Oh boy, now I'm depressed.

 

Watch out for me cuz.....While shaking hands I also like to give a hug to boot!

 

Watch out for me cuz.....While shaking hands I also like to give a hug to boot! </font>[/QUOTE]I will!