Luke 8:54

"And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid arise." Luke 8:54
Showing posts with label Political/ World Issues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Political/ World Issues. Show all posts

Saturday, September 12, 2015

National Remembrance Day of Aborted Children

Political/World Issue

Yesterday, September 11th, we hopefully took the time to remember the travesty of 14 years ago, when our nation was attacked and almost 3,000 Americans were killed.  I was recently informed that today, September 12th, is the national Remembrance Day of Aborted Children, where every year in the U.S. over 3,000 babies are aborted every day.  This is not only a travesty but a holocaust.

I believe this post from two guest writers, is both timely and appropriate.  Both share their thoughts on abortion.  I thought it was a blessing, and also a neat contrast to view both a young girl's perspective as well as a woman's.


Do You Love Me?

Image result for Human embryos 8 weeks
8 week Embryo 
"I cry out in pain. How could you do this to me? I am your child, your baby girl! But yet you decide to kill me? You think I am just a blob of tissue, really nothing. Something not wanted and easily deposed of. I came by “‘accident” and I am not wanted so why not just kill me? 

I am helpless, defenseless. My only hope is that someone will speak for me, I am voiceless. 
But who will speak for me? Does anyone care? 
I have nothing to hope for but you, a voice for the voiceless. I am voiceless, but will you speak for me? Will you stand up and do what is right? Are you willing to be hated by all? Do you love me enough to care? Will you change my parents mind so that I might live?
                                             
Abortion is a subject that I of course have known about but not until recently have I really understood what it really and truly was. I didn’t even know what Abolition meant until this year. I have had the opportunity to do Abolition work several times this year and it has been truly amazing and eye opening for me. It was amazing being out there holding signs and standing up for what is right, while you are hated by all! They hate you because you are pointing out something the is caused by their actions in life, their decisions. And you're standing up and saying it is wrong. You are truly hated for it. People scream and yell, curse you out and much more. The only reason there is so much opposition is because it is real, it is happening in our Nation today. Every day thousands of babies, real babies, not just blobs of tissue, are being killed. Murdered. But yet no one stands against it? We are the voice for the voiceless! Do we not care that babies are being murdered everyday? Will we not stand for what is right?
This subject has weighed heavy on my mind lately, will you also think about it and think what we are letting happen in our world today without blinking an eye lash? Will we continue to let this happen without saying something?"  T.K.

Unwanted
Image result for Human embryos 22 weeks
22 week old Embryo 



"The horror of what has been revealed recently concerning Planned Parenthood and the off-handed way so many people view and accept the murder of innocent lives has been weighing on my heart. As I was thinking and praying, I was inspired to write the following words. I am open to hearing your responses and what you can add to my thoughts:


All living things have a beginning. Without that beginning there can be no further progress, no development, no growth, and the final manifestation of the living creation will never be. Whether plant, animal or insect, life has a beginning – a seed, an action, an outpouring of God’s creative power inherent in every living, growing, changing, miraculous element of the universe we live in. So how can anyone say that the creation resulting from the seed of a man and the egg of a woman is not living from the moment it is begun?

That creation is living, it is growing, it is developing, it is becoming something more, it is a creation in God’s image, it will be a unique creation with infinite possibilities, it will make a difference in the world in which it lives, it has an impact on all who  come to know and love or not love it. What happens, what suddenly causes that precious, living being to be brutally cut off from becoming what it was intended to become? Why is a life suddenly aborted? Why is this living creation of God murdered and destroyed?

Because it was not wanted.

When a woman desires to become pregnant, the news that she is going to be a mother brings joy, brings people together, causes celebration and gratitude and excitement. How many women do you know that refer to their joyously anticipated child as a “fetus” or “embryo” or “blob of tissue”? That child growing within them is their “baby”, their “precious cargo”, their “gift from above” among many other identities! It seems that it is only when the child is not wanted that it suddenly loses its right to life. So, to me, that is what abortion is really all about – the decision of the mother (and in some cases the decision of influential people in the mother’s life*) that she does not desire to be pregnant, does not desire to be a mother, does not desire to give the life within her a chance to grow, to develop into the person God intended. The woman “chooses” to play God. She “chooses” death over life and becomes the killer of her own child, her own flesh and blood.

It deeply troubles me when pro-choice individuals say that pro-lifers are “religious zealots” that want to take away a woman’s rights. They are blinded, they are confused, they are misled. How can they not see the glaring hypocrisy of only valuing the unborn life and protecting it when it is wanted, but choosing to kill that life and even saying it is not of value when it is unplanned or unwanted? The child becomes the innocent victim of a parent’s “freedom to choose”.

What is even more devastating is what the woman must do to be able to live with herself and justify her decision. I don’t believe that any woman ever forgets or dismisses the loss of a child – even if that woman has chosen to decide it was not “human” but just a “mass of cells”. Because we are all created by the same God, we all were made in His image, we all inherently know what is right from what is wrong. Our consciences remind us. We can make excuses, we can listen to lies, we can do whatever it takes to silence that voice within that pleads with us to ask forgiveness, to be at peace with our Heavenly Father.

 I might be wrong, but I believe that underneath all the attempts to justify the prevention of life through the act of abortion (whether it be the mother, the doctor, or anyone condoning or aiding) there is the awareness that something serious, something life-changing has occurred. I believe too that at some point, the reality of what happened will take its toll on those who made those choices. Only asking for and receiving God’s forgiveness will pay for however that toll is collected. If only there were more people, more Christians willing to stand up for life, willing to talk to the women who are afraid or feel trapped by an unwanted pregnancy. They need help understanding the horrors of abortion and that there are other options available to them!*


*Note:  during my volunteer time at a Christian crisis pregnancy center, I encountered young women who were considering abortion because of the pressure of a parent or boyfriend, even husband. But ultimately, the decision is the mother’s. She may have to sacrifice a relationship or seek help, but that is what the crisis pregnancy centers are there to do – support and assist and even, through resources, protect the woman who wants her child despite opposition around her. Adoption, often an overlooked choice, has been the answer for many women who were not able to raise a child. And it is amazing how God will intervene when life is chosen!" D.M.

Toni's Note:

This morning while reading James 1 I was struck with a few thoughts.

Being a hearer of the word is not bad, but, it is only part of our duty.  We hear the word (like when we are in Church for example), but we also are to do His word.  God makes it very clear why.  If we only hear His word we will forget what it is that He wants us to do. (v.25).  Also, hearers only temporarily look at themselves, are convicted, but then go on their way, "straightway forgetting", and doing nothing.  A hearer can seem religious but they deceive themselves -- and his religion is vain.  If we are hearers only, that means our religion is vain.  But "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this -- to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted by the world."  (v.27).  A lot of us seem to focus on being unspotted from the world, but so easily we forget about those in affliction.  It really convicted me.  What am I doing to visit these people in their affliction?  Very little.  I pray the Lord shows me how I can reach them, because it's obvious this isn't a matter of "if" but "how".   I don't only want to remember, I hope to "do".

"...We need to let this spiritual work be done in us quietly and peacefully, not as though it could all be accomplished in a single day.  Furthermore, we need to maintain a balance between learning and doing.  We ought to spend much more time in doing.  If we are not careful, we will spend such a large segment of our lives in gaining knowledge that we shall need another lifetime to put out knowledge into practice.  We are in danger of evaluating our spiritual maturity on the basis of the amount of knowledge we have acquired.  ...This seems to be one of the most common as well as the most serious mistakes which Christian people are liable to make.  God is the giver of knowledge and he desires to have us put it into practice. But the moment we get knowledge, we get so carried away with the delight of having it that we forget there is anything else to be done.  But the fact is we have very little reason to rejoice until we put our knowledge into operation in life.
...Food, lying undigested in the stomach, is not only of no service to the body, but, if not removed, will become harmful.  It is only when it is assimilated and mingled with the blood and works itself out into our hands, feet and head that it can be said to have done us any good.  So to have an understand of Biblical truth in intellect is a matter of Thanksgiving.  But it will only result in our condemnation if it is not cherished in the heart and acted out in life.  ...Not light, but love.  (1 Cor. 13:2)."  ~ Francois de Salignac de la Mothe-Fenelon

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Monday, April 6, 2015

Bound With Them

Political/World Issues

Bound with Them
Prisoners of Iran for Christ



"Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body." 
 Hebrews 13:3 



Recently "the chubs" (my little siblings) and I were studying Iran for school.  While studying the country we found out that the country is hostile towards Christians and even found that there are 3 known Christians being held in prison there for their faith.  www.prisoneralert.com 

I asked the children if they would like to write and encourage one of these men as a school project.  Beth knew right away who she wanted to encourage.  His name is Benham Irani.

Photo - Behnam Irani   Behnam Irani is a 41 year-old pastor from Karaj, Iran and was convicted of crimes against national security and sentenced to one year in prison.  After voluntarily surrendering to authorities he began his sentence only to learn he would be forced to serve another five years.

The MOIS (Ministry of Intelligence and National Security), raided Irani's house church April 14th 2010, and assaulted him before taking him into custody.  Irani has a wife and two children.  Irani has been held 1384 days. Please click the link below to send Irani an encouraging letter.




Write a letter 

5956
encouraging letters written so far 

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Life

Political/World Issues 


Life 


I recently did a post on abortion.  If you read this post you know that most abortions are performed in the first and second trimester.  Specifically the 5th to 12th week.  I thought I would research the development of babies during these trimesters.  These sweet lives are undeniably more than "blobs of tissue".  

(The photographs below are of live babies.  This content is appropriate for all ages.)




First trimester development (weeks since LMP):

From fertilization: a new human embryo exists, already a boy or girl.

(Photo of 5 week embryo)
5 weeks: heart is beating and brain is developing.

6 weeks: baby has head, chest and abdomen, is ½ cm long and arms and legs have started to develop.

7 weeks: baby's brain has all the divisions, subdivisions and cavities as in an infant's brain; face and fingers are taking shape and when face is touched, embryo reflexively moves away.                                        


8 weeks: he/she is 1cm long.
                                                         (Photo of 8 week old embryo)
9 weeks:baby can move hands and neck and may get hiccups.

10 weeks: baby is almost 11/4 inches, makes startle movements and general movements of whole body: all fingers and toes are fully formed, hairs on eyebrows and other areas of face appear.

11 weeks: baby is a fetus, can sigh, stretch and starts sucking thumb. His/her face, palms of hands, and soles of feet are sensitive to light touch.

12 weeks: baby is 3 inches long with all major body parts and apart from the tiny size, closely resembles a  newborn.


13 weeks: baby can make complex facial expressions and by end of this week will be almost 4 inches, having grown almost an inch every week since 10 weeks. 

(Photo of 13 week Embryo)

Second trimester development (weeks since LMP): 

Abortions are performed in the 2nd trimester in some states.  Our nearest Planned Parenthood in Spokane WA performs abortions up to 17 weeks.  Check the stats for your state or country so you can educate others and save lives! 
 (These links go to pages without any graphic images)

At 14 weeks: the fetus is 5 inches long. 

15 weeks: baby responds to light touch virtually anywhere on his/her body.

16 weeks: baby is almost 7 inches long.

(Photo of 16 week Embryo)










 18 weeks: if poked with a needle, the fetus releases stress hormones.

(Photo of 20 week embryo)
20 weeks: baby is 10 inches long with eyebrows and head hair. 
21 weeks: baby has breathing cycles.
22 weeks: baby can hear sounds. His/her skin and all its structures are completely formed. At 22 weeks the fetus may survive outside the womb with specialist care. 

(Photo of 22 week old embryo)
  

25 weeks: breathing motions are more frequent, shows blink-startle response.
                                                                                           
                                                                                               (Photo of Embryo at 26 weeks)
26 weeks: eyelids open.
























How Could I Help?

"Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction"  Proverbs 31:8

Many people ask me what are some good ways to "do" something about abortion, or to help save these babies, or to minister to the moms.  Actually there is endless opportunities to do just that!  Here are just a few ideas -- 

Join your local Crisis Pregnancy Center. (Life Choices Pregnancy Center in Sandpoint.)

Find out if your grocery store offers any "community cards" where you could have a percentage of your grocery money go towards your local Crisis Pregnancy center.  (Yokes Market Community Card)

Run for babies!  Join a pro-life group that runs marathons for babies.   (Life Runners!)

Have gently used baby clothes?  Donate them to you local Crisis Pregnancy center.  (Earn While You Learn!)

Join Voices of Dissidence for updates on what you can do.  

Inform the public!  (Created Equal)  

Buy The Choice and give to friends.

Contact your legislators!  (Idaho's legislators) 



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Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Political/World Issues 

Guest writer Chris Hutto has written something so compelling that I had to share it with you.  It's an amazing read.  Thought provoking, convicting, mind blowing and simply brilliant.  A must read.  It is longer, but once I started I couldn't stop.  Please leave your comments!  I would like to hear from you!  

                     My Ministry to the Jews

Auschwitz stock



May, 1944
  Despair increases steadily as does the terrible hunger, the like of which mankind has never yet suffered. With complete assurance we may say that they have not left us even a jot of that which is called body or soul.
  In truth, the world deserves only that we spit in its face…Sudden death, hunger, deportation, interrogations, labor, queues, etc., etc. wreak havoc on the ruined vineyard of Israel, among the poor remnant. Will you O God, keep silent? How can you, having seen it?
July 31, 1944
  My…heart is cut to pieces when I perceive how terrible my little sister is tormented. She lost literally everything- no stockings, no clothes…no tenderness. O you poor orphan, and what you have to suffer by my unjust treatment, because of my destroyed nerves. You, poor being, must help yourself with substitutes: instead of stockings some rags, instead of boots some wooden contrivance…God seems to have abandoned us totally and left us entirely to the mercy of the heartless fiends. Almighty God, how can you do this?
August 3, 1944
  When I look at my little sister my heart is melting. Hasn’t the child suffered its part? She has fought so heroically the last five years. When I look on our cozy little room tidied up by the young, intelligent, poor being I am greatly saddened by the thought that soon she and I will have to leave our last particle of home.
  Oh God in heaven, why didst thou create Germans to destroy humanity? I don’t even know if I shall be allowed to be together with my sister. I cannot write more. I am resigned terribly and black spirited.
  
That was a few entries from the diary of an unknown Jewish boy orphaned, along with his younger sister, by the Nazis. The children lived in the Lodz Ghetto in Poland where they were forced into slave labor. After the war his diary was found written in the margins of an old French novel. Both of the children were murdered.

  Even though the Jews were forced to live in the confines of the ghettos, people, often children, would sneak through the borders and scavenge for food to bring back to their families. The Gentiles (Goyim as the Jews called them) were not allowed to mingle or assist the Jews in their plight…but some did anyway.

  Imagine for a moment that this was happening in our country. Our Jewish population was being dehumanized and confined to bordered ghettos in YOUR city. Imagine that we lived in a country that taught us through the school system, media and court rulings that the Jews were not human like you or I because of their race. Evil propaganda spread like wildfire on the internet assuring us that annihilating the Jews was for the betterment of our civilized society. The Gentiles justified their murder by calling it “choice” and “rights.” Imagine also that 80% of your fellow Americans supported this discriminatory ideology.

  Can you picture it? You were born in a country this way. You aren’t even surprised anymore when you see the smoke rising from the crematoria. That’s how it’s always been…well, at least since you can remember. You are disgusted at the racist barbarism but just try not to think about it too often. During the elections you faithfully vote for the candidate you think will help make the Jewish people a bit more comfortable. You are satisfied with the fulfillment of your duty. You stand for what is right with your vote! I mean, just two months ago a provision was voted on in your state that allowed the elderly Jewish people 85 and older to live outside of the ghettos. Not only that but it actually passed! Life is good…or is it?

  Imagine once more that you need to head into town to pick up a few groceries. No big deal. You hop into the car and head strait for the supermarket. Your day is busy but this will only take a few minuets. Zipping absentmindedly around traffic you make a left turn and speed down 7th Street. Less traffic down here. A long razor-wire fence stretches the length of the road, an ancient brick building looms beyond the boarder. Dark billows of smoke curl like a wicked smile from a blackened chimney. It’s the Ghetto hospital were the Jews go to get “taken care of.”

  Turning up the Christian radio station you try and ignore the place but are stopped short when two children dart from the curb and into the road. Quickly, you slam on the breaks and come to a screeching halt. The children are frozen in their tracks right in the middle of the road and stop to see what you will do. You know that they have just escaped from the prison-like ghetto.

  Reddened eyes stare back at you from swollen lids and tallow colored faces. Stained and tattered rags cling to the children’s sweaty, emaciated bodies. Hunger and fear are etched deep in their beings. Bitterness and resentment leap from the boy’s eyes. In one hand he holds his sister’s tightly and in the other an old book. Golden words grace the front of the hardback cover…are those french words? You don’t have time to figure it out.

  A piercing alarm rings out across the city. The children have been missed. A dog barks in the distance. A few shouts echo from beyond the ghetto fence. The children would never have a chance on their own. The city teems with police and people that are more than happy to turn over runaways for a promised reward.

  You love the Jews. You aren’t a racist. You see the “King of the Jews” in your mind’s eye with children sitting at His feet. You worship these young Jew’s Messiah. Startled, the children run to your window and plead with you to let them in. You can’t hear their faint, despairing voices over, “God’s so good” blaring from the stereo. Now you can really see their faces stained with tears. They beat on the window with their fists. Two guards appear on the hospital grounds, weapons raised. A German shepherd bounds forward with a menacing growl and slams his body into the fence just a few feet behind the children. Tension floods the air. Screams from the children, barking from the dog and curses from the armed men all scrambled into a chaotic frenzy. Your heart pounds against your chest in rhythm to the pathetic drumbeat of the Jewish children’s fists. Police units assemble on both sides of the streets.
Oh, what was that? A faint sound hummed in your pocket. You look down. There is was again! Suddenly a burst of laughter irrupts from your mouth. Excitedly you whisk the phone from your pocket and glance at the screen. Incoming call. It’s Sammy! You answer, “Hey, what’s up?” A bouncy voice answers back, “Not much. And you?” You laugh and after a short pause look at the children. They’ve stopped screaming. The despondency in their eyes screams louder than their voices ever could.

Um, nothing really…Just headed for the store.”

Great! You have time for coffee?”

You look out your window and see the guards closing in.
Yeah, I think so. I’ll meet you at Starbucks. Sound good?” You snap the car into gear and zoom off.

Yep, sounds good. See you in a bit.”

You hang up the phone with a smile.
Coffee sounds great right now.”
  
You are free and it feels good to take a drive…even if you are busy. A few angry gun shots scream through the air but you don’t notice. You were just at the best spot in your favorite hymn and singing along.
  
That would never happen, right? How could I ever be so hardhearted? If I saw another human in need I would stop and help, wouldn’t I? I would be brave like Corrie Ten Boom, Miep Gies, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
  
After shopping you head strait to the coffee shop and meet your friend. You are having a wonderful time. Outwardly you chat about what is new and exciting in your life but inwardly you wrestle with accusing thoughts in your mind.

Should I have helped those children? Well, I am really busy this summer.
But you could have taken a bit of time out of your busy schedule to save a life.
They were going to die anyway and besides what could do when thousands die everyday?
Don’t you think it is your moral obligation?
I know what you mean but that isn’t my ministry. I have never been led to help the Jews.
Do you have to be “led” to do what’s right?
Well…the Holy Spirit hasn’t given me a peace about it yet.
What about the peace of those children?
I’ll do it in my own way. I wouldn’t want to offend any of the guards.
They are murderers!
Jesus was loving and…
I know. So loving that He gave His whole life to save the lives of others.
But, that was Jesus!
Now it’s your turn.
  
Nonchalantly you say good bye to your friend and drain the last drops of your mug. It was a long day and you hurry home. Out of habit you take 7th again. The street is abandoned and lonely. In the center on the road you notice a small object. Is it a book? Gold letters gleam brightly in the sunlight of the evening golden hour. Carefully you pull alongside the book and open your door. The words are French on the cover. It is an old French novel. Your curious fingers reach down and scoop up the fragile book. Nothing extraordinary about it. Just an old book.

You gasp and recoil your hands in shock. The book falls, binding up, smashing the yellowed pages. Dark blood spots the back of the book. It is the boy’s blood. Hurriedly you slam the door shut and speed away from the sight of blood. The steering wheel feels sticky. No, it can’t be! There is blood on your hands.