Friday feature: Statewide alliances

Pregnancy care centers are often attacked by abortion advocates as being "fake clinics" that offer false information about abortion and trick women into continuing their pregnancies. Nothing could be further from the truth, but countering such misconceptions is difficult. Abortion advocacy groups are well-funded and adept at manipulating the media. What's a center to do?

Most PCCs adopt standards of operation such as those to which we hold our partner centers. That's one level of defense. Another is to band together with like-minded PCCs in statewide alliances.

One such group is the Alliance for Life of Missouri. You can find a full list of their services on their website, but one of the key components is nurturing centers through consultation and training. Our president, Tom Lothamer, has led workshops at several conferences with the Missouri alliance over the years. He also worked with our state's PCCs to form the Alliance for Life of Michigan.

Another key component of alliances is building awareness among state legislators so they understand the value of PCCs to Missouri families. This effort is aimed at forestalling the tactics used against centers in other states that, thankfully, have come to nothing.

To do:

• Ask God to protect PCCs from attacks
• Find the Alliance for Life - Missouri on Facebook
• Read Are we really so bad?

Thankful Thursday: God's gift of His Son

His most recent time through Deuteronomy, my husband noted God's use of the word "test" in connection with the giving of manna. In 8:16 Moses said:

In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end. (See also Exodus 16:4)

The test was whether and how they would receive it. If they were hungry enough, they would eat anything, but would they continue to expect it day after day as something good from God? Or would they abuse the privilege by greedily (and foolishly) hoarding it? Would they keep giving thanks for their daily bread, or begin grumbling about its monotony?

We often think of tests in terms of trials or feats of obedience, wondering, "What hard thing is God going to ask of me today?" But in this and other instances, God tests His people by giving them gifts -- whether they be the gift of life, the gift of a child, or the gift of His Son.

How have we responded to God's gifts?

Working Wednesday: Donor relations

In one sense, donor relations is the responsibility of every staff person at Life Matters Worldwide, but the task of recording donations and receipting them falls to Nancy Lothamer. She actually holds the title, Donor Relations.

In addition to maintaining the database and sending out thank-you letters, Nancy -- who is president Tom Lothamer's wife -- also orders supplies for the office and oversees orders of materials going out from our office. This time of year, with churches and pregnancy care centers preparing for Sanctity of Human Life Sunday (January 20, 2013), that's a huge part of her part-time job.

Nancy is also heavily involved in the August Golf Classic -- organizing food and volunteers -- and other events throughout the year . . . a true helpmeet to Tom. She stays busy with church activities, their three children, and six grandchildren.

Tuesday prayer: Sandy Hook Elementary School

Pray that the families of the victims will take refuge in the heart of a God who grieves with them, Who gave up His own innocent Son to forces of evil, and Who accomplished victory over the grave in the Son's resurrection.

Pray that the teachers and students overcome the trauma of the memories of last Friday.

Pray that the hearts of our leaders will be moved to protect all children.

Related: The slaughter of innocents

Monday musing: The slaughter of innocents

In our sadness over the murder of innocent children in Newtown, CT, at Christmastime it's not hard to draw parallels with Herod's slaughter of children in Bethlehem near the time of Christ's birth. As then, the tears flow, and the cries go up. We ask, "Why? Why do the innocent suffer? Where is God?"

Asaph asked this question in Psalm 73, but phrased it somewhat differently: "Why don't the wicked suffer?" When the innocent suffer and the wicked don't, the result is the same -- people are tempted to doubt God.

They say: “How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?”

Behold, these are the wicked; and always at ease, they have increased in wealth.

Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence;

For I have been stricken all day long and chastened every morning.

The wicked life of ease is as much a problem as the evil that befalls the undeserving. When God doesn't prevent evil or immediately punish it, some people conclude He doesn't exist, He knows nothing, or is weak. It's far from an academic exercise or idle speculation. If a satisfactory answer isn't found, some turn away from faith in God, or are hardened in unbelief (Hebrews 3:12-15).

Asaph recognized the danger. He was careful not to vent his tortured thoughts while they were still foremost in his mind, lest he betray God's people -- the generation among whom he walked. He wasn't like some teachers who raise provocative questions without making an effort to answer them. As the writer of Hebrews says, we have a responsibility to the congregation: "Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called 'Today,' so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

So what's Asaph's answer? Does God know what's in the heart of the wicked person before he acts? Does He see the future? Is He aware of who the victims will be and the void they'll leave behind? Should we continue believing in God and maintaining pure hearts when pain is the result?

The answer is yes, God does know and see all. Righteous living is worth it. In suffering, we experience the consequences of the Fall and recognize our need of a Deliverer. In His sovereignty, we're allowed by it to glimpse the brevity of this life and prepare for the next.

Asaph felt as wretched as anyone could "until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end." He came to terms with reality in the Temple where He was reminded of 1) God's holiness, 2) His desire to fellowship with men, 3) the problem of sin in the hearts of all men that separates us from God, and 4) the provision of sacrifices to atone for it. He saw that the wicked are on a slippery path, even though it appears they have it made. Their end is in sight; their destiny is destruction. (See also Matthew 7:13-14.)

As for the pure in heart, they seem to live precariously, but the truth is they'll be with God "afterward" (Ps. 73:24) and are always with Him now (v. 23). He is holding their hands, guiding them. God is all their desire, their strength, and portion (vv. 25-26).

This is even true in times of doubt. In verses 21-23, Asaph admitted:

When my heart was embittered and I was pierced within,

Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.

Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand.

Evil exists. To avoid it, we'd have to go "out of this world," as Jesus noted. But good exists too -- with God. As Asaph says, "the nearness of God is my good," not all the stuff over which I'm envying the wicked. Sometimes we need a reminder that the only real good in life is the presence of God. Suffering is, therefore, useful in getting us to loosen our grip on other things that have taken His place.

One day Jesus was asked about some people who were killed by Pilate. Were they being punished for something they'd done, or was this just another outrage against goodness? Jesus chose to focus on something else. He warned, "Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." This could be the sobering lesson of Sandy Hook Elementary School, too.

God didn't let a bitter, brutish Asaph go, and He's not going to cast away the honest questioner of 2012 either. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Let us all humbly bow before Him.

I pray the grieving families will experience the nearness of God in all its goodness and take refuge in Him (Ps. 73:28) during this impossibly difficult moment. His Father heart grieves with them. The Son He sent to once-for-all atone for sin is the One who assures they can someday be joyously reunited with their children.

Related: 
Where shall we put this grief?
Weeping with those who weep – a first-hand response from Newtown

And slew the little childer
A Christian perspective on the Newtown shootings
Why Doesn’t God Do More to Restrain Evil and Suffering? Part 1
How could a loving God . . . ? (powerful answers on suffering)

Friday feature: Beacon of Hope PCC -- Bay City, MI

Life Matters has been associated with this pregnancy care center from its founding by our good friends Kim and Patti Lewis. They served the Lord in the Bay City a number of years -- Kim as a pastor and Patti as director of Beacon of Hope -- before recently moving to another church in Beaverton, MI, last year.

Leadership of the PCC is now in the hands of young and energetic Amy Srebinski. A few months ago, however, the mother of four was feeling a little overwhelmed by all her new responsibilities. She called our office. Even though she had no experience directing a center, she seemed to know what she didn't know, and that's often a key to success.

We were able to advise her on a few things, urge her to attend next year's Summit, welcome her as an associate, and give her a Standards for Excellence manual. We also introduced her to Carolyn Doyle, CEO of Lakeshore Pregnancy Centers.

Amy spent a few days on this side of the state, consulting with Sharlene from our office as well as participating in a training seminar at LPC. She also got to sit in on a meeting with directors of all the Lakeshore satellite centers. She probably felt overloaded with information on her way home, but we've already seen an uptick in her confidence level.

We're grateful for the privilege of working alongside directors like Amy -- made possible by our donors, years of experience working in this field, and a fine network of partner centers.

• Find Beacon of Hope PCC on Facebook

Thankful Thursday: for Christ the King

This time of year Christians around the world are thinking about Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. Another scene in His life has been on my mind since I recently read 1 Timothy about "Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate." (6:13; don't miss this: the passage says God is the One who "gives life to all things.")

Jesus testified about Himself, and that was supposed to give Timothy courage for fighting the "good fight of faith." It's meant to give us courage too.

What did He say before Pilate? My impression of that incident is that He didn't say much. In English Matthew, Mark, and Luke record it as exactly five words: "It is as you say" (to the question, "Are you the king of the Jews?").

They were a sufficient number of words to get Him killed and to give us courage. Do we believe it? He's either the King or He's not.

In John, we're given a little more: "My kingdom is not of this world. . . . For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth." Ah, there is a Christmas connection!

Christ's testimony before Pilate is either true, or it's not. What do you do with it?

Pilate brushed it off: "What is truth?" But it's less a matter of us deciding and more about being called by God: "Everyone who is of the truth hears [His] voice."

We take courage in Christ's testimony about Himself -- before Pilate, before the High Priest, before the people of His day. We carry the message forth from there. We "keep the commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing." (1 Timothy 6:13)

Now I'm in the first chapters of Hebrews; from there we're taken back to Psalm 2, another passage about Christ the King. In it, we see rulers like Pilate put on edge by Jesus. They just hate Him! In light of God's power and fury, however, there's this recommendation -- for kings and everyone else:

Now therefore, O kings, be wise;

be warned, O rulers of the earth.

Serve the Lord with fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son,

lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,

for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Oh come, let us adore Him, as did the wise kings of the east!

Postscript: Can the Stable Still Astonish? -- a poem by Leslie Leyland Fields

Working Wednesday: What is LIFT?

We've mentioned LIFT in the previous two posts, and now it's time to say more about it.

What is LIFT? LIFT is a ministry of compassionate care to the chronically or terminally. Through LIFT, volunteers are trained to visit individuals and provide non-medical assistance. The circle of care also extends to loved ones who are often the individual's primary caregivers and who face pressures that can be physically, emotionally, and spiritually draining.

LIFT volunteers report to a Care Coordinator and meet regularly with each other for encouragement and support. They help their care recipients by ministering in simple, creative, and practical ways:

• Run errands
• Walk the dog
• Help with housework
• Bake a cake
• Bring fresh flowers
• Read the Bible out loud
• Shovel snow
• Help with correspondence
• Do yard work
• Drive patient to the doctor's office
• Be a friend
• Listen
• Bring encouragement

LIFT is an ideal outreach of the local church -- to church members and people in the community. It also sends important messages to the world at-large: 

1. Human life is sacred
2. God is sovereign over life
3. Jesus Christ conquered sin and death
4. God's people serve others through compassion ministries

Learn more:

What is LIFT? from Life Matters Worldwide

Related:
LIFT on our website
LIFT FAQs
The messages LIFT sends
How not to flinch in the face of suffering

Postscript: An award-winning movie -- Amour -- advocates euthanasia and shows why ministries such as LIFT are needed.

Tuesday prayer: LIFT volunteers

Yesterday's musing briefly mentioned LIFT as one way for Christians to ease the suffering of people, stand up for the sanctity of human life, and oppose euthanasia. Today we'll pray for people who volunteer to help people -- primarily those with chronic or terminal illnesses, and their loved ones -- in programs like this through local churches.

For instance, the Care Coordinator at Grandville Baptist Church (MI), Ruth TenBrink, has recently linked five volunteers with five care recipients. Pray that these will be mutually encouraging partnerships, and that the individuals will find sustaining grace from the Lord in difficult experiences.

There are also LIFT-type ministries at other Michigan churches: Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville, Jenison Bible Church, and Calvary Baptist in Grand Rapids. (If your church has a similar program, please let us know. We'd love to pray for you, too!)

Learn more about LIFT on our website.

Monday musing: We wouldn't do that to a dog!

Time was when pet euthanasia was used as a rational for people euthanasia. The logic went something like this: If we can put a dog or cat out of its misery, why can't we do the same for humans?

[For examples of this sentiment, see the following articles: Pro-euthanasia ads air on Australian TV, Is euthanasia for the living or the dying? and Dutch Euthanasia.]

While the pro-life side appreciated the ever-so-slight acknowledgment that human being deserve better treatment than dogs and cats (that was the intent, right?), we reject the rationale. Human beings stand above the animal world as imagers of God. (Genesis 1:26-27, 9:2-4; Psalm 8:6-8)

The death of animals is morally neutral, while that of humans requires scrutiny. In Genesis 9:5-6, God made animals accountable for the death of humans, not the other way around.

 "Better" treatment of human beings, in our view, involves easing suffering -- through  palliative care and hospice ministries that affirm every patient's worth as valuable to God -- not ending it by killing the sufferer. Our LIFT program trains Christians to do that for fellow-church members and others.

So now it's amusing to read about a new twist on the argument. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, dying pets are receiving palliative care rather than euthanasia. In 'It's Just a Dog. Get Over It.', Jessica Pierce writes about how the line is being blurred between pets and other family members. Owners are shelling out big bucks to provide pets with care from one of the approximately 75 veterinary hospice services available around the country.

"Once euthanasia was the default response to an animal's mortal illness. Not any more. . . . Working together, pet owners and veterinarians can often maintain a good quality of life for an animal long after we might, in past times, have simply euthanized it."

Will this mean the end of the euthanasia-for-people argument? Will euthanasia advocates now say, "If we can give pets life-affirming care like hospice, why can't we do the same for humans?" One would hope so, yet it would be sadly ironic that it would take uber-love for pets to get us to view people from the proper perspective.

It's too late for those who have been legally euthanized in places such as Belgium and the Netherlands. And in Oregon and Washington state. (Click the above links for the latest statistics.) Here's some commentary from those who have digested the figures:

• There have been 5,500 cases of euthanasia in 10 years of legal euthanasia in Belgium. The European Institute for Bioethics raises serious questions about the practice, including how intertwined it is with organ retrieval for transplants. Wesley Smith says Belgium has gone "off the moral cliff."

• The Netherlands prize their euthanasia efficiency, but Dr. Bernard Lo questions the extent of government oversight in a recent Lancet article, (volume 380, issue 9845, pages 869-870, 8 September 2012, doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61128-3). Alex Schadenberg says euthanasia there is "out of control."

• The Physicians for Compassionate Care Education Foundation bemoans the steady increase in numbers of physician-assisted suicides in Oregon and the lack of transparency in the process. (This seems to be a common theme.)

• Washington is the latest arrival to the euthanasia scene, but it appears to be surpassing Oregon in numbers, according to the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Church. 

Postscript: Get ready for the next assault on the sanctity of human life -- plant rights! See also Pea Personhood? and (for the inevitable twist) Why Did We Ever Start Calling Patients “Vegetables?”

Friday feature: Pregnancy care ministry in Papua New Guinea

Lori Smith is a missionary nurse in the mountains of Papua New Guinea. She runs a clinic that sees many people every day -- people who've let an illness go on too long, victims of violence. People who can't make it to the hospital in town, or have been turned away from there. Each one hears about Jesus.

Many patients are pregnant women. A few years ago, Life Matters helped Lori get a used ultrasound machine to help them see and bond with their unborn babies. It's a wonderful tool for life. Many have turned from their abortion plans as a result. Here's a report from this week's newsletter:

Four moms . . . came to our clinic seeking abortions. Sharing God’s Word with them, praying with them, and encouraging rather than chastising them for their request made a huge impact on their decisions . . . all have chosen life for their babies. One is just weeks away now from delivery. It will be a choice she will be thankful about for the rest of her life.

Lori and her husband Bill, who teaches at and administrates Goroka Baptist Bible College, have also turned their home into a haven for premature or abandoned babies. Village women help nurture the premies until they're able to go home and the abandoned ones until adoptive homes are found.

I wish everyone read Lori's newsletters. They're jam packed with stories about moms and babies, about patients tended to in the clinic, about churches begun because Christians cared for a newborn belonging to that tribe. Life in PNG is hectic, often frantic, and sometimes frightening with physical and spiritual warfare going on all around. Please pray for Bill and Lori and their family.

• Find them on Facebook
• ABWE website
• Previous mention on this blog

Thankful Thursday: Vendors

We've been busy making our Christmas card list and addressing the envelopes. We especially like to remember the companies we work with throughout the year -- some who give us discounts and a little extra of their time and resources to help us out.

This week, I'm most grateful for Tim at CDW.com for helping me find a huge discount on software that needed to be updated before the end of the year. There are countless people like him -- in printing companies, IT services, our mailing service, etc. -- who make our lives easier and help us steward the funds that the Lord entrusts to us. I like to think of them as an extension of our staff.

Thank you, Lord, for our vendors!

Working Wednesday: Baby Bottle Boomerang

If you could see Sharlene's office right now you'd wonder, "What's she doing with all these baby bottles?"

She's busy packing them up for several churches that have agreed to conduct Baby Bottle Boomerang campaigns in January, surrounding Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.

What's a Baby Bottle Boomerang, you ask? It's a donation drive in support of the the pro-life ministries of Life Matters Worldwide. Churches distribute empty baby bottles to church members and return them to us at the end of the campaign full of coins collected from pockets and seat cushions. It's a fun project for families and a good opportunity parents and children to discuss the sanctity of human life.

Here's our President, Tom Lothamer, to explain more:


Baby Bottle Boomerang: Message for Pastors on Vimeo.

To find out how to a Baby Bottle Boomerang at your church, click here or email Sharlene.

Tuesday prayer: For enlightenment

In light of yesterday's musing, pray that Christians everywhere will continue to develop a biblical understanding of the sanctity of human life and godly ways of expressing it.

I've found that a "way in" to this huge topic is to study related biblical themes:

• Look at what the Bible says about violence and the destiny of violent people. There are many references found in Proverbs.

• Note what God's word says about injustice and how often it's tied to both the shedding of innocent blood and the neglect of widows and orphans.

In addition, our website lists numerous references that apply to any discussion about abortion. See What Does the Bible Say About Abortion?

This is our prayer for you:

We . . . ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

Colossians 1:9-12

Monday musing: Is the biblical pro-life message ancient or modern?

Blogger Jonathan Dudley started something when he wrote "When Evangelicals Were Pro-Choice" (for CNN) and "How Evangelicals Decided that Life Begins at Conception" (for the Huffington Post).

His contention is that "what conservative Christians now say is the Bible’s clear teaching on [abortion] was not a widespread interpretation until the late 20th century." For proof, he cites individuals and groups who agreed with the legalization of abortion in some, if not all, circumstances in the late 60s and early 70s.

Dudley explains the migration to the current pro-life view as evangelicals falling under the influence of powerful leaders of the "Religious Right," such as Jerry Falwell. Christians should, in his view, "consider the possibility that they aren’t submitting to the dictates of a timeless biblical truth, but instead, to the goals of a well-organized political initiative only a little more than 30 years old."

Why does it matter that what evangelical leaders say is "the biblical view on abortion" was not a widespread interpretation until about 30 years ago? For one thing, it's harder to argue the Bible clearly teaches something when the overwhelming majority of its past interpreters didn't read the Bible that way. For another, it illustrates that evangelical leaders are happy to defend creative reinterpretations of the Bible when it fits with a socially conservative worldview -- even while objecting to new interpretations of the Bible on, say, homosexuality, precisely because they are new. And for another, by looking at the history of how today's "biblical view on abortion" arose, one can begin to see the worldview that made it possible. In the process, it becomes apparent it is that unacknowledged worldview, and not the Bible, that evangelical opponents of abortion are actually defending.

Several Christian writers generated helpful responses: Mark Galli of Christianity Today (here and here), John Stonestreet of Breakpoint, and Albert Mohler. I'd like to add a few points to the discussion:

• InterVarsity may have published (and then rescinded under pressure) a 1984 book that said abortion was legitimate in some instances, but it had already published Michael Gorman's Abortion and the Early Church in 1982. This book built the case that from its earliest days, the church opposed abortion.

• Regular Baptists, from which Life Matters Worldwide sprang, were solidly pro-life from the beginning. In 1971, two years before the Roe v. Wade decision, the GARBC (which would call themselves "fundamentalists" rather than "evangelicals)" acknowledged that "the sanctity of human life is well documented in Scriptures" and resolved to "go on record as being thoroughly opposed to abortion on demand."

• Diverse methods for interpreting Scripture -- in the past or today -- better explain why there's diversity in Christendom on abortion. Your stance on this issue has more to do with where you land on the errancy/inerrancy spectrum than anything else. Those who approach the Bible with a non-literal hermeneutic are the ones who come up with novel interpretations (concerning homosexuality, for instance), while we who take God's word literally have always maintained it's a sin. 

The same is true of abortion. Taking God's word at face value and employing grammatical-historical methods of interpretation, we are satisfied with statements about the personality of unborn humans as found in Genesis 16:11-12 and 25:22-24, Psalm 139:13-16, Jeremiah 1:5, Hosea 12:2-3, Luke 1:15 and 41, and Galatians 1:15-16. 

• What hindered many Christians from early involvement in the pro-life movement was not lack of biblical support, but hesitancy to join the political fray. What increased the comfort-level with the pro-life movement for many evangelicals (and brought them into the political arena by the backdoor) were hands-on ministries such as pregnancy care centers that sprang up in the 1980s. PCCs gave them opportunities to prevent abortions by offering alternatives. They could serve families in their communities, reach out to women who'd already had abortions, and share the Gospel.  

Over time, our understanding has grown about just how pervasive the sanctity of human life ethic is in Scripture, and what we are called to do about it. More than a few proof-texts, it's a theme from Genesis to Revelation.

Every age has been confronted by challenges that require Christians to go to work "rightly dividing the word of truth." If, as Peter says, "His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness," then we are equipped to handle questions that didn't necessarily arise in the 1st century -- or the 3rd, or the 13th.

No, the word "abortion" never appears in the Bible, but if you study topics such as violence or the murder of innocent people, you'll find those are the domain of wicked people. Furthermore, the treatment of widows and orphans as well as all poor people is also tied to the sanctity of human life. Thus, if you make a move to strike someone, or abandon a hungry person to her own devices, you're placing them at risk of death -- their blood would be on your hands.

Abortion is nothing if it is not violent; it is the ultimate injustice. The pregnant mother and her unborn child must not be abandoned. We are learning what to do when it comes to this issue.

Postscript 12/6/12: Here's a pertinent article by Phil Cooke that appeared on a Huffington Post blog -- How Christianity Lost Its Voice in Today's Media Driven World

Friday feature: Relevant resources

I want to highlight a couple ministries that came to my attention this week. They offer resources that can help the body of Christ live out its pro-life mandate.

First, an email from Stuart Carver of Family Enterprising landed in my inbox. This ministry "promotes the foundation and strong growth of biblical households." They do this through Birth of a Family, which works alongside pregnancy resource centers to convert the opportunities they have with clients into "lasting nuclear families where fathers, mothers, and children live, grow, and play together in one home." A worthy and much-needed goal.

Stuart and his team are making an impact at one end of the pro-life spectrum while Ron Panzer, a hospice nurse, is having an effect on the other end.

Through the Hospice Patients Alliance and the Pro-Life Healthcare Alliance, he and others are working to maintain respect for the lives of dying people. They've documented some alarming trends in healthcare and offer resources for families to help them protect their loved ones. I asked to be placed on his e-newsletter list and received a nice email in response.

One of those resources is Stealth Euthanasia: Health Care Tyranny in America (a book available online). Another is The Hospice Patients Alliance Family Guide to Hospice Care, billed as "the most complete guide to hospice care available." It's available for download for a small fee.

Why are such resources needed? Because of atrocities like those described in a recent British Medical Journal (BMJ 2012;345:e7319). An anonymous doctor wrote of his/her anguish over having been forced to care for children after a decision was made to forgo medically provided feeding:

[The parents] wish for their child to die quickly once the feeding and fluids are stopped. They wish for pneumonia. They wish for no suffering. They wish for no visible changes to their precious baby. Their wishes, however, are not consistent with my experience. Survival is often much longer than most physicians think; reflecting on my previous patients, the median time from withdrawal of hydration to death was 10 days.

Parents and care teams are unprepared for the sometimes severe changes that they will witness in the child’s physical appearance as severe dehydration ensues. I try to make these matters clear from the outset so that these parents do not make a decision that they will come to regret. I try to prepare them for the coming collective agony that we will undoubtedly share, regardless of their certainty about their decision. I know, as they cannot, the unique horror of witnessing a child become smaller and shrunken, as the only route out of a life that has become excruciating to the patient or to the parents who love their baby. I reflect on how sanitised this experience seems within the literature about making this decision.

. . . It is draining to be the most responsible physician. Everyone is looking to me to preside over and support this process. I am honest with the nurse when I say that it is getting more and more difficult to make my legs walk me on to this unit as the days elapse, that examining the baby is an indescribable mixture of compassion, revulsion, and pain.

Some say withdrawing medically provided hydration and nutrition is akin to withdrawing any other form of life support. Maybe, but that is not how it feels. . . . As I am embroiled in this situation once again, the one thing that helps me a little is the realisation that this process is necessarily difficult. It needs to be. To acknowledge that a child’s prospects are so dire, so limited, that we will not or cannot provide artificial nutrition is self selecting for the rarity of the situations in which parents and care teams would ever consider it.

Related: Dehydrating Disabled Babies in UK Hospitals

Thankful Thursday: Inspiring thanksgiving in Togo

So many blessings . . . so little time. One day isn't enough to express thanksgiving, but at least our country sets aside a holiday to consider what we're grateful for. It's in danger, however, of being co-opted by football and shopping.

Meanwhile, over in Africa, one of  partners wrote this reflection:

Not in Africa, but only in the U.S. . . . [There is] no Thanksgiving Day as a holiday in any of the 54 countries in Africa nor in Togo, my home country. . . . I do not know about other continents like, Asia, Europe, South America and Australia.

Joseph Akakpo of Togo went on to tell about how it "just happened" he had scheduled a day for thanksgiving and testimonies at the LomNava church on November 25, "not knowing November 22nd is a BIG holiday of thanksgiving in the U.S." Here's how it went:

I want to tell you that, we had a wonderful Sunday morning worship with thanksgiving. After the Holy Spirit led me to preach on the attitude of giving thanks taken from Luke 17:11-19, the saints in the church felt guilty of being ingratitude to the Lord. In fact a lady and a man were crying while they shared their ungrateful hearts. There were lot of inspiring testimonies I have not heard from the brethren before after being with them for three years now. They really poured their hearts this morning and said all to free themselves after the conviction of the Holy Spirit to be grateful to the Lord. . . . 

They even shared a meal -- "not finger food but the real one. Yes, we eat to our satisfaction and we praise God for that." Maybe our brothers and sisters in Africa will lead us back to the real purpose of Thanksgiving Day.

For even though they knew God, 

they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, 

but they became futile in their speculations, 

and their foolish heart was darkened. 

Professing to be wise, they became fools. 

(Romans 1:21-22)

Working Wednesday: Prayer calendar

This is Sue Ellen Doenier, working on the prayer calendar for January and February. It involves retrieving prayer requests from our pro-life ministry partners and arranging them in the grid. Sue also finds appropriate clip-art to embellish the calendar and writes an accompanying letter that helps our Prayer Partners appreciate their role.

That role is significant, and close to 1200 people have stepped up to fill it. Most receive calendars by email, the rest by post. Some are true prayer warriors, never wanting to miss a single day! It certainly is heartening to know they're with us in a spiritual battle that never gets a day off. We also enjoy hearing how God has answered requests that were highlighted in the calendar.

Would you like to join the ranks as a Prayer Partner? Please go to the sign-up page and fill out a brief form. You can access the current calendar here.

From time to time we post urgent requests on Facebook. "Like" us @ www.facebook.com/lifemattersworldwide to receive those updates. You'll also receive them by following us on Twitter.

Tuesday prayer: For our opponents

Yesterday's musing was about appealing to our opposition along the lines of 2 Timothy 24-26. We're exhorted to do so in such a way that "perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth." Not that they'll "come around to our point of view," but that they'll be saved!

It's a given we will have opponents (John 15:18-25). And Jesus said we should pray for them (Luke 6:28). Here's why we need to pray for them -- they're in a pitiable position, being held captive by Satan to do his will. And here are specifics of what we should pray for on their behalf:

• That God, in His mercy, will grant them repentance
• That He will lead them to know the truth
• That they may come to their senses
• That they escape the snare of the devil

Related: Tuesday prayer for our leaders

Monday musing: Calling all patient persuaders!

While some people are critical of social networking (and the Internet in general) as being a time-waster and a dangerous source of filth and misinformation, I'm a fan. Unlike mainstream media, it's a form of communication that we can turn to our advantage.

I wouldn't be blogging if I didn't think so, but I do acknowledge the truth of what the critics say. As with any good thing, moderation and discipline are advised. I want to add another misuse to the list: Social media such as Facebook and Twitter give occasion for people to spout off in ways they probably would not in polite company.

I can't count the number of times I've cringed at the response of someone who claims to be a Christian because what he or she has said is disrespectful or hateful. Mom was right: We should think before we post.

And we should apply Paul's words to Timothy about communication with or about opponents:

The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 24-26)

I apply these words this way:

• The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome . . . on Facebook or in comments posted elsewhere online. I don't think this means we shouldn't respond, but we mustn't be argumentative. Any reply should be for the reader's benefit and not for me to "score points."

• The Lord's bond-servant must be kind to all . . . on Facebook or in comments posted elsewhere online. I take this to mean there ought not be any name-calling, verbal abuse, or harshness.

• The Lord's bond-servant must be able to teach . . . on Facebook or in comments posted elsewhere online. Teaching is something other than the clever jab or sound byte. It requires time and patience. More on this below.

• The Lord's bond-servant must be patient when wronged . . . on Facebook or in comments posted elsewhere online. Oh, it's so tempting to retaliate when the other side calls us a name or is harsh and abusive about an idea or person we admire -- abundant evidence of that online -- but their behavior doesn't excuse our responding in kind. "Love keeps no record of wrongs." We also don't have to rebut every charge made against our side.

• The Lord's bond-servant must with gentleness correct those who are in opposition . . . on Facebook or in comments posted elsewhere online. If repentance is the goal-- and it always is -- then gentleness is the key for dealing with opponents.

It's tempting to say nothing when we can't think of something nice to say, but the unborn can't afford our silence. I'd like to take this opportunity to challenge all of us to become an army of patient persuaders as described by Paul. If we can't learn to articulate our beliefs in ways that appeal to others, then can we at least point them to resources that can be counted on to not bash them over the head? Here are a couple good ones:

Stand to Reason - basic Christian apologetics
Life Training Institute - pro-life apologetics (see related The Case for Life)

One last thought: Our opponents are not exempt from kind treatment because they advocate the killing of innocent unborn human babies. At the time of writing 2 Timothy, Paul was in prison awaiting execution by Nero. He didn't allow fear or hatred to deter him from attempting to persuade guards and soldiers -- who had participated in the deaths of other Christians -- to accept Christ as Savior. He took great delight in the Gospel going forth, even though it might have been done out of spite (Phil. 1:12-17). And, while he acknowledged the harm some Christians had done to him, he prayed God wouldn't hold it against them (2 Tim. 4:16). That's something to remember the next time we're attacked.

Related: 
Should pro-lifers verbally "bash" anyone? (on Facebook)
Monday Musing for October 5: Love the enemy
Monday Musing for September 17: Christians in an age of aggression

Postscript: The reason we often lack graceful speech is we fail to rely on the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, in Luke 12:11-12, "When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Thus it might be advantageous to learn to cite Scripture and not certain radio talk show hosts who may or may not always speak from a biblical point of view.

Working Wednesday: Join the campaign against bullying!

A child knows it's wrong to be mean or call others names. It's good to see society rising up to fight bullying. There's even a growing campaign to eliminate use of the r-word.

No abuse is more severe than abortion, and none are as vulnerable as unborn babies. Powerful interests with lots of money refuse to stop "bullying" them, despite our best efforts.

It's time we called everyone to stand against the "non-person" label and resist killing people in the name of problem-solving.

That's the theme of our bulletin insert for Sanctity of Human Life Sunday 2013. We're busy taking orders and sending them out. Can we send some to your church?

Here's how to order: Shop our online store for bulletin inserts and other items to help your church fight for life, and to help Life Matters Worldwide in the process! (Click 'Church Items' from the left-hand column.) To order by mail: Download an order form here. Or phone: Call 1-800-968-6086, (616) 257-6800.

How do your orders help Life Matters Worldwide? All the proceeds go directly into our pro-life work. Here are a few things that such support enabled us to accomplish this past year:

• Send vital ultrasound equipment to India
• Revise a 322-page manual for pregnancy care centers
• Host our annual conference for pregnancy care center staff
• Consult with pregnancy care centers around the country

Friday feature: A question that makes all the difference

I've written about Metro Women's Center of Crystal, MN, in the past, but Director Colleen Tronson keeps writing such good reports that I want to share them with you.

(Hint to other PCCs that want to be featured in this space: Send frequent updates and make sure we're on your email list. It doesn't hurt if you also know how to write in a dynamic, compelling style.)

In her latest e-newsletter, she writes something that any PCC director could write:

The woman came into the office with downcast eyes and and a heavy heart. I prayed silently that I would be able to make a connection with her. My initial questions were met with one-word answers -- yes or no. Since her head was bent in discouragement, I longed to say, "Look up; there is help and hope for you here!" But I knew that this dear one needed me to go slowly and to use gentle words to help her. She gradually opened up and looked up. She shared her fear of a possible pregnancy. She was already struggling to raise her young daughter. My heart went out to her; there was so much to plow through.

Her test was positive. She was resolute. Abortion was her plan, and that was all there was to it! I asked, "What would have to change in order for you to choose life for your child?" She shared that her rent was behind due to unexpected car repairs. Even with working 50 hours a week, she was still overwhelmed. She stated that she knew abortion was wrong but it represented a way out for her. She needed $300 to catch up on the rent. I told her we could help with that amount through our aid programs. "Really, you would help me?" was her shocked response. I told her that if $300 would save her baby's life, we would be happy to help!

She began to cry and and to thank me for giving her a way out. We talked further, and I had the opportunity to share Scripture with her. She said she knew the Lord but had not chosen to obey Him. I John 1:9 was shared, and through prayer this dear one was restored.

$300 and compassionate words saved a baby's life -- amazing! This is why we are here.

It's a story true of any pregnancy care center. Of course, centers can't help women this way without the support and volunteers to make such offers.

They need prayer support too. I love how Colleen remembered to "go slowly and to use gentle words" to help the woman. This takes training and proper attitudes, but also prompting by the Holy Spirit in the moment to apply the appropriate response. 

In that same vein, we just received a prayer request from another pro-life ministry that's also been featured previously (which also sends frequent, compelling updates):

Please pray for a Garden of Hope caller who, even after finding out she is carrying twins, is seeking a place for an abortion. This young mother already has two small children and we believe is being pushed into this abortion by a very difficult boyfriend who seems very agitated that this decision is so hard for her. 

In talking with him he tells us she wants the abortion. His angry, hostile attitude in our conversations with him and her brokenness and tears and confusion in our conversations with her lead us to believe she is being pushed. Please pray that God would give her the courage to step away from this man and flee to the ones who have offered her help, love and care for all areas of her life. 

We pray that our words about the option of adoption would prick her heart, as well, and that she would turn from what she is about to do. Please seek God's intervention in the life of "B" and protect her and her precious little ones from Satan's snare.

You see how crucial prayer is to pro-life ministry? Lives are at stake!

Working Wednesday: Overseas partnerships

We've been talking about our partnerships with pregnancy care centers the past two Working Wednesdays (here and here). The focus has been our U.S. partnerships, but we also have them overseas.

When we began back in 1984, we never imagined we'd become an international ministry, but when the Internet put us on the "world wide web," people in other countries began emailing pleas for help.

Some of those requests involved sponsoring their visits to the U.S. so they could attend a Summit. In 1997, we hosted people from Romania, South Africa, and South Korea. Later that year, we made our first trip outside the country to help a group of centers in Romania open. These experiences opened our eyes to the great needs abroad and to the potential for expanded ministry.

A few years later we met Evelyn Stone, a missionary in Peru who had started a PCC. New Life Prenatal Center in Lima was staffed by people from local churches and, as they witnessed to clients, new believers were added to church membership roles and new churches started. The PCC was proving to be an effective church planting tool.

Evelyn eventually became our International Training Consultant and has traveled to India, Liberia, Kenya, and the Philippines representing us. She has also seen the Lima center sprout several satellites, and hosts regular "summits" for South American pro-life ministries. Recently, we worked with her to publish training materials in Spanish.

Over time, we've learned together that pro-life ministries in other countries can differ greatly from those in the U.S. The physical needs are often much greater, and sometimes cultures are missing a historical respect for human life. Often, even Christians need to be taught that abortion is wrong -- what it is, how human life begins, and what the Bible says about the sanctity of human life.

Our primary model for international ministry is to work with missionaries going out from the U.S. We encourage them to consider using pro-life ministry their church planting efforts -- whether through pregnancy care centers or LIFT -- in because it's an effective way to meet people and offers openings for sharing the Gospel. While they're still in the U.S., we train or help them find training in a local PCC. We'll also provide our materials at no charge.

Sometimes we'll visit their fields of service to help them share the vision of pro-life ministry with other missionaries and nationals, or to help them troubleshoot difficulties. At times we'll help them financially with a special project, such as the purchase of ultrasound equipment.

• Read more in past ministry reports.
• "Like" us on Facebook to keep up with current overseas partnerships.
• Learn more about how the pro-life message is part of the Gospel.

Tuesday prayer: Our leaders

Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:1-8)

As we mused yesterday, political leaders are often less than what are to be desired. The question before us today is, will Jesus find us praying for them when He returns (1 Timothy 2:1-4)? "This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 

So let's pray for President Obama and his cabinet. For Senators and Congressmen. 

For state legislators and assemblymen. City councilmen and mayors. 

Supreme Court Justices and judges of the appellate courts. 

For those who fear God and those who do not. 

For those who respect the sanctity of human life and those who are "pro-choice." 

May God turn their hearts to rule justly for the unborn. Whether they want to or not.

Related article by Russell Moore: Christians, let's honor the president

Monday musing: The Proverbs 31 Man

We're all familiar with -- and intimidated by -- the model woman depicted at the end of Proverbs 31, but have you ever heard a sermon or read an article about man in the first 9 verses?

The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
Do not spend your strength on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings.
It is not for kings, Lemuel—
it is not for kings to drink wine,
not for rulers to crave beer,
lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
Let beer be for those who are perishing,
wine for those who are in anguish!
Let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Scholars note this king is unknown in the annals of biblical history and agree Lemuel may be a euphemism for Solomon. The name means "to God," as in "belonging to God." If the "Proverbs 31 woman" is God's ideal for womanhood, then verses 1-9 could be said to describe the ideal leader -- the one owned by God.

One reason we don't hear much about this passage is likely all the dangerous reference to strong drink, as though drunkenness is allowed the common man if not the king. Plenty of passages -- including Prov. 20:1 and 23:19-21 -- clear up any misconception. (See Luke 21:34, Romans 13:13, 1 Cor. 6:10, Gal. 5:21, Eph. 5:18). Basically, good leaders are those who don't indulge themselves, or let their pleasures overcome good judgment. Ecclesiastes 10:16-17 serves as a parallel:

Woe to you, O land, whose king is a lad and whose princes feast in the morning. Blessed are you, O land, whose king is of nobility and whose princes eat at the appropriate time—for strength and not for drunkenness.

The point of sober leadership is the just use of power. The good leader doesn't allow his friends to ply him with anything, including wine, to the neglect of justice.

In a crowded throne room (or courtroom) a king could be dazzled by the pomp and ceremony, the wealth and influence of powerful advisers. He could overlook the poor man in ragged clothing standing at the end of the line, or forget the wretches outside who never gain entrance because they're too ashamed, or disabled, or must work all day to survive. After all, they're not the king's drinking buddies.

In all the competing interests, the king must keep the "little people" and their concerns in mind. The wealthy, the powerful, the beautiful have their own voices. But who speaks up for the little ones, the "non-persons" who have no voice?

Not only should the godly leader avoid perverting justice by condemning the innocent (Exodus 23:1-9, Dt. 16:18-20), but he should also be their advocate. "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. . . . Speak up!"

What if we don't have that kind of leader? What if they're under the influence of Planned Parenthood? What if they not only disregard the unborn, but advocate on behalf of their enemies?

It falls to us to do the speaking up -- petitioning to and about our leaders. Supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks should be made to God for kings and all who are in authority (1 Tim. 2:1-4). And, while the parable in Luke 18:1-8 is about demonstrating faith through persistent prayer, it also shows the propriety of petitioning "unjust judges." Through our diligence, perhaps one day they'll do the good they're reluctant to do, despite their prejudices. (Note that the parable also diagnoses the root of injustice -- no fear of God or respect for the sanctity of human life.)

Men -- whether they're leaders in government or at home -- must speak up about abortion. Despite what feminist's say, men shouldn't be silenced because they lack female reproductive equipment or the experience of bearing children. Many women have abortions because their men are either coercive or weak. Since all human life in the womb is valuable to God -- male and female -- male voices are crucial to the pro-life movement. Abortion is not just a "woman's issue."

Related post-election reading:
Exit Polling Data Shows Pro-Lifers Failed to Vote Pro-Life
Why Romney lost
Do Pro-Life Policies Even Matter? by Kevin DeYoung
Few get political messages at church
Exit polling data suggest breakdown of the family favors the rise of liberal politics

Friday feature: Alpha Women's Center of Grand Rapids

This pregnancy care center will always hold a special place in our hearts. It was our first project, way back in 1985. We hoped it would become a model for other communities, and it did. Within a few years, we had helped centers open in other parts of Michigan (Flint and Pontiac) and the Midwest (Des Moines, Milwaukee, and Crystal, Minnesota) -- to name a few off the top of my head.

Eventually, Alpha Women's Center also expanded into other nearby communities, forming satellite centers in  Cedar Springs, Greenville, Hastings, Lowell, Newaygo, Wayland, and Delton. Then, as AWC-Grand Rapids had gained independence from what was then Baptists for Life in 1988, so these satellites "took flight" from the "mother ship" a few years ago.

Young people from Chapel Point Church pose at the front door.

Locations for AWC-GR have also changed over the years. It began in a suite of rooms at 920 Cherry SE, moved to a building on Michigan Ave., then next to the abortion clinic on E. Fulton. From there it located farther east on Fulton for a spell, and now occupies a former funeral parlor on S. Division (a more beautiful space than you'd think!).

With the most recent move, Executive Director Carolyn Koole has expanded the vision of the center from a focus on pregnant women to helping moms beyond pregnancy. They still offer free pregnancy tests with ultrasound verification, but have added group and individual studies (Bible studies, home economics, and more), GED-prep classes, and something called Community at Heart. This is "a daytime respite for moms with children under the age of six who are without homes or a secure living environment."

How can you help? In addition to financial support and participation in events like their upcoming Open House, there are many volunteer opportunities at Alpha. Visit the website to learn more about their need for mentors, church liaisons, behind-the-scenes assistance, and more.

Know someone who needs Alpha's help? Refer them to their client website, OptionsForYou.org.

Find Alpha on Facebook.

Thankful Thursday: God is still God

This post-election Thursday, I'm thankful my trust is in a never-changing God. From Psalm 46:

God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
“Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

What a comfort!

What are we to make, however, of election analysis by the Pew Forum that shows many who would claim "the Lord is with us" were not with Him in the way they voted?
 

Working Wednesday: Maintaining quality and integrity

One aspect of Life Matters Worldwide is our ministry to pregnancy care centers. Last week we talked about  the nature of our partnership with them. In passing, we referred to the list of centers on our website as ones we can recommend as having "quality and integrity." That's important, because our goal in partnership is "to establish and sustain PCCs as effective Gospel outreaches."

As our Standards for Excellence manual for PCCs states:

A commitment to excellence is the basic standard by which any successful organization operates. This is especially true for organizations claiming Jesus Christ as their Head. As ministries dedicated to serving others in the name of Jesus Christ, it is vital for pregnancy care centers to operate at the highest level of integrity and effectiveness.

This week I want to highlight some of the things Life Matters does to fulfill such lofty goals. I've already mentioned our Standards for Excellence manual. This is a 300+ page manual that helps centers evaluate their practices and implement procedures that will enhance their outreach.

Our PCC Summit is another way we strengthen centers. The Summit is a two-day conference for PCC directors, staff and board member, and volunteers. We bring in speakers that will inspire, challenge, and educate them, and offer time for prayer, fellowship, and networking.

In 2013, we'll begin offering webinars to supplement the training our associates can receive at the Summit. Topics will include reaching more abortion-minded women and board governance.

Speaking of board governance, our president Tom Lothamer writes a regular column for boards in At the Center magazine. (Links to all his articles are on our website.) Tom also trains PCC boards and helps them draft strategic plans; he and other Life Matters staff members regularly consult with directors on a variety of issues.

PCCs are something all of us on staff feel strongly about. Next week I'll talk about our partnerships with pro-life ministries overseas. But before I go, I have to mention one other thing we do for centers: highlighting one or two of our partners everyday on the prayer calendar. Quality and integrity aren't sufficient without the Holy Spirit's moving. Will you join us in praying for our partners?

Tuesday prayer: Awaiting the outcome

If you've voted, you can now rest in God's sovereignty. Ponder (and pray) Psalm 33:

Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.
Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.
Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
For the word of the Lord is upright,
And all His work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord.

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;
He lays up the deeps in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.
The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

The Lord looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men;
From His dwelling place He looks out
On all the inhabitants of the earth,
He who fashions the hearts of them all,
He who understands all their works.
The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
A horse is a false hope for victory;
Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
To deliver their soul from death
And to keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
For our heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name.
Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in You.

Here's more on God's sovereignty and voting. And a prayer for election week.

Monday musing: The other pro-life election issue

As you pray over tomorrow's momentous election, remember Massachusetts. Voters there are deciding on a proposal to legalize physician-assisted suicide. They would be the third state to do so (behind Oregon and Washington).

But there are a chorus of influential voices in opposition:

• Boston Globe: No on Proposal 2
• Ted Kennedy's wife: Vote no on assisted suicide in MA
• American Nurses Association: Draft statement opposing assisted suicide/euthanasia
• Providence Journal blog: Why to vote no on Mass. Question 2
• E. J. Dionne: Liberals should be wary of assisted suicide
• NY Times opinion: Suicide by choice? Not so fast
• Ira Byock: Assisted suicide is not progressive
• Choice is an Illusion blog: Users of assisted suicide are senior with money
• Dr. Barbara Rockett: Physician-assisted suicide “in direct conflict” with doctor’s role
• Wesley J. Smith: Our dangerous obsession with 'health'
• Ezekiel Emanuel: Four myths about doctor-assisted suicide

Don't, however, be lulled into complacency! Advocates of euthanasia are persistent and will, no doubt, bring it up for a a vote again. And again and again. So pray!

This might also be a good time for more churches to look into offering LIFT, our program of respite care for people with chronic or terminal illnesses and their families. If we can help your church get started, email or give us a call: 1-800-968-6086.

Finally, a few words from Hosea 10 this election-eve:

          Sow with a view to righteousness,
                Reap in accordance with kindness;
                        Break up your fallow ground,
                              For it is time to seek the Lord
                        Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.
                You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice,
          You have eaten the fruit of lies.

Postscript: A couple other last minute pre-election reads:

• Albert Mohler: A prayer for America on Election Day
• Joe Carter: 5 ways presidents affect the pro-life cause

Post-postscript: The assisted suicide proposal was narrowly defeated Tuesday.

Friday feature: The Farrans

Notice anything menacing about this photo?

Kyle and Heather Farran and their daughters just landed in the U.S. for a three-month furlough, dodging Hurricane Sandy. They are missionaries to South Africa and one of our foreign field pro-life ministry partners.

During this last term they established the Calvary Care Home, an AIDS hospice. It's a four-bed hospice facility on church grounds. Here people dying of AIDS receive spiritual care while having basic physical needs met – as they would at home if there was someone to care for them. The dream is to be able to “love them to the last breath.”

Did you know?

. . . Two-thirds of all people with HIV/AIDS (22.5 million) live south of Africa’s Sahara Desert, a region home to only 10% of the world’s population?

. . . In 2009, an estimated 1.3 million adults and children died of AIDS in that part of the world?

. . . Within that region, South Africa has one of the highest rates of infection, with 5.6 million people living with HIV/AIDS?

. . . Roughly 310,000 South Africans died of AIDS in 2009?

. . . Since the epidemic began, about 1.9 million South African children have lost one or both parents to AIDS?

This the kind of data that led Kyle and Heather to pursue such ministry. Before leaving for Africa on their first term, they participated in a LIFT training in our offices. It was their introduction to respite care ministry as used by churches to counter the pull of euthanasia and assisted suicide. They use the material to train church members for involvement with Calvary Care Home.

Since completing construction last fall, the home has ministered to several patients. Right before furlough, the Farrans posted this report:

Phile arrived at Calvary Care Home two weeks ago. HIV+ and suffering from blackouts, she recently lost her husband and only child and now lives alone. She claimed to be born again, but was paralyzed by fear of the future. The care home was to her a place of rest for the body and peace for the soul. During daily Bible studies we focused on the security and peace that Christians can have by resting in the finished work of Christ. She left a week later, blackouts gone and resting in her savior. God is so good.

Learn more about the Farrans' ministry:

• Compassion Within a Yard of Hell
• Farran Family website
• Kyle and Heather on Facebook

How you can pray:

• Provision of personal support needs - to reach 100%, they need an additional $575 per month
• Funds to support the care home - $62,200 for three years of operation (or $1,700/month)

Thankful Thursday: Free and fair elections

As difficult as this election season has been, we still have a lot to be thankful for. That point was brought home to me earlier this week in a Facebook chat with a friend in Kenya.

I'd asked him to pray for our country as we undertake the election next week. He replied, "I fervently pray for your nation. May God give you a leader after his heart and give all of you wisdom as you elect."

And then he said something that put everything we endure -- endless robo-calls and attack ads -- in perspective: "Pray for us also as we come to elections. Civil wars arise and many kill each other."

As brutal as our election campaigns can be, we don't worry about them erupting into violence or war. Thank the Lord with us that we have the privilege of voting (many nations do not), and that our system works relatively smoothly.

Resources --

• Earlier this week we highlighted a video that your church might want to use this weekend to encourage people to vote according to biblical values. 
• Here's a link to a powerful sermon by John MacArthur: Abortion and the Campaign for Immorality.
• Here's an article by Randy Alcorn: Do the Candidates Have Different Positions on Abortion and Does it Matter?