HUGE & EXCITING NEWS:Audra just got word this morning that we will be getting a visit from Shawn Carney, 40 Days for Life (National) Spring Campaign Director! We would definitely encourage anyone who could make it out to the vigil site for his visit to do so. He is a very encouraging speaker and you will be blessed!!
WHEN: SATURDAY, MARCH 7TH @ 12:30
Hope to see you all then!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
During our last leadership meeting before the kick-off of the Spring 2009 campaign, Audra emphasized the range of emotions that we may experience while out at the vigil site. As a past participant, I can verify that you do have moments where your emotions run the gambit while out at the vigil site in prayer; those emotions went anywhere from sadness, sorrow, anger, fear, indignation, etc. How do we handle these emotions? I think that first and foremost, of course, we look to God and ask for His help and guidance to act in a loving way. In His infinite wisdom, God reminds us in 1 Corinthians 13:1, 4-7 that:
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal…Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
I hope that I can keep these verses at the front of my mind during this campaign; I hope that they will shape my heart and mind for the entire 40 days. However, last night at the Kick Off Rally, another point was made that seemed to have a great impact on more than one of us. Our speaker Maureen Yockey, Executive Director of Alternatives Pregnancy Center (Denver, CO) shared with us her first response anytime she is asked why she thinks that abortion is wrong; her simple response is “Because it hurts women”. She was careful to tell us that she does not imply that this is the ONLY reason she is against abortion, but she feels like it is an important piece of the puzzle that is often left out of this issue. She nudged us to remember that there are always at least two victims from an abortion, the baby and the mother.
So, my prayer is that if I daily join these thoughts with the wonderful words God has given us in 1 Corinthians, the first emotion that I will have for all the people (mothers, babies, fathers, grandparents, clinic workers, etc.) we are praying for during this time God has called us to will be…love.
At the end of this post I want to share a video of a song that God continued to “put in my path” last fall during the campaign. I honestly think that He did it to keep reminding me that there are a variety of victims of abortion and many of them are the mother’s left behind to deal with the decision she made.
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal…Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
I hope that I can keep these verses at the front of my mind during this campaign; I hope that they will shape my heart and mind for the entire 40 days. However, last night at the Kick Off Rally, another point was made that seemed to have a great impact on more than one of us. Our speaker Maureen Yockey, Executive Director of Alternatives Pregnancy Center (Denver, CO) shared with us her first response anytime she is asked why she thinks that abortion is wrong; her simple response is “Because it hurts women”. She was careful to tell us that she does not imply that this is the ONLY reason she is against abortion, but she feels like it is an important piece of the puzzle that is often left out of this issue. She nudged us to remember that there are always at least two victims from an abortion, the baby and the mother.
So, my prayer is that if I daily join these thoughts with the wonderful words God has given us in 1 Corinthians, the first emotion that I will have for all the people (mothers, babies, fathers, grandparents, clinic workers, etc.) we are praying for during this time God has called us to will be…love.
At the end of this post I want to share a video of a song that God continued to “put in my path” last fall during the campaign. I honestly think that He did it to keep reminding me that there are a variety of victims of abortion and many of them are the mother’s left behind to deal with the decision she made.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Mark Your Calendars!!!
Monday, Feb. 23rd (7:00-8:30pm)
Join Us for our Kick-Off Rally
Sacred Heart of Mary (St. Bernard Hall)
6739 S Boulder Rd
Boulder, CO 80303
Keynote Speaker: Maureen Yockey-Executive Director of Alternatives Pregnancy Center
Suzie LaVelle of SHM's Memorial Wall, a place of Hope and Healing
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Sobering Statement
While listening to the live training call tonight, David Bereit made a statement that was really startling and sobering for me. I would not say that it was something I was unaware of, but for some reason it really "stopped me in my tracks" I guess. The statement that he made was that abortion "is the #1 cause of death in America". Following him making that statement, I got to wondering why this fact does not cause the body of Christ to be more mobilized to stand against abortion in our nation. It also begs the question that if these were babies who were being killed after their actual delivery, wouldn't the Christian church as a whole be out in droves against that? So, my question is this...how do we communicate effectively to our brothers and sisters in Christ that this problem demands urgency and large numbers of participants? I sometimes think that people get in their minds "Well, it is the law of the land. And it has been legal and on demand for 36 years. We can't change anything!". I can understand that; I used to think that way. However, the Lord impressed upon me that ultimately fighting abortion is a sin issue in the midst of a spiritual war; we cannot control it, that must be left in the hands of our merciful, gracious God.
At some point during the campaign in the fall, Audra said something that has definitely stuck with me (and I am paraphrasing, I am sure that Audra was much more eloquent when she said it!); she reminded me that even if we don't see a single person change their mind during our time out at the vigil, we are still called to be there and pray. She is so right! We may never know the impact that our prayers might have on one of the clinic patients, doctors, other workers, passersby, etc. We don't know how the Lord may move in our midst even when we are unaware. All that He asks is for our obedience and our service in His name.
"Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?" (Romans 6:16)
At some point during the campaign in the fall, Audra said something that has definitely stuck with me (and I am paraphrasing, I am sure that Audra was much more eloquent when she said it!); she reminded me that even if we don't see a single person change their mind during our time out at the vigil, we are still called to be there and pray. She is so right! We may never know the impact that our prayers might have on one of the clinic patients, doctors, other workers, passersby, etc. We don't know how the Lord may move in our midst even when we are unaware. All that He asks is for our obedience and our service in His name.
"Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?" (Romans 6:16)
Encouragement
Because I know that I serve a sovereign God, I know that it is not by “accident” that I find myself with a course writing assignment that ties in so well with the week that I have launched into the leadership team for the 40 Days for Life. I had never sat down and read Martin Luther King, Jr.’s letter from the Birmingham jail, but this is exactly what was required for my paper. Although, he was writing his letter in regards to African American civil rights, he was first and foremost a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because of this, I truly feel that there are words that we can pull from this letter and apply to the injustice that we, as Christian pro-life advocates, stand against.
I can honestly say, for myself, that each and every time that I went out to the clinic during the last campaign I was nervous. I never had a complete sense of peace because I was always worried about what sort of confrontation might come our way that day while out there lifting up our prayers. However, these certain words from the letter helped put that in perspective somewhat “But I must confess that I am not afraid of the word “tension”. I have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessary for growth”. If the “tension” that we may cause while out there changes just one persons view on this subject, I welcome the tension I might cause.
Another great point that came up while reading this letter directly refers to the situation that I have many times found myself in when having a discussion on the topic of abortion with a pro-choice person. They are always quick to remind me that it is a right protected by law in our country. To this I must sadly agree, it is indeed the law of the land. However, Martin Luther King makes a great point about law that I think can be applied to the pro-life cause. “How does one determine whether a law is just or unjust? A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas: An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law”. He also points out this chilling reality “We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was legal.”
And then there is always the struggle that I have at times at being branded as “too extreme” in my views on this subject. I cannot speak for all of you in this group, I can only speak for myself; however, this atrocity that ends the life of nearly 4,000 precious little lives daily in our country at times overwhelms me. I just don’t understand how a county that was built upon Judeo-Christian principles can abide by this practice. In his letter, Luther says this “though I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist as I continued to think about the matter I gradually gained a measure of satisfaction from the label. Was not Jesus an extremist for love…Was Amos not an extremist for justice…Was not Paul an extremist for the Christian Gospel?” Maybe we should wear the badge of extremist with the attitude that it was placed there by Christ Himself.
It is a curious thing, the items that God uses to bring things into perspective for me sometimes. If you have never read this letter before by Martin Luther King, Jr., I would urge you to. It certainly has other points that can be used as encouragement for us in the pro-life struggle. And although I know that there may be theological difference amongst those of us in the group since we are from different denominations within the Christian faith, I would like to share words with you that help keep things in perspective for me when I am faced with criticism because of my strong Christian convictions… “Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, so help me God” - Martin Luther. Let us remember that because we cannot do otherwise, we are being strengthened by our Almighty and Glorious God.
I can honestly say, for myself, that each and every time that I went out to the clinic during the last campaign I was nervous. I never had a complete sense of peace because I was always worried about what sort of confrontation might come our way that day while out there lifting up our prayers. However, these certain words from the letter helped put that in perspective somewhat “But I must confess that I am not afraid of the word “tension”. I have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessary for growth”. If the “tension” that we may cause while out there changes just one persons view on this subject, I welcome the tension I might cause.
Another great point that came up while reading this letter directly refers to the situation that I have many times found myself in when having a discussion on the topic of abortion with a pro-choice person. They are always quick to remind me that it is a right protected by law in our country. To this I must sadly agree, it is indeed the law of the land. However, Martin Luther King makes a great point about law that I think can be applied to the pro-life cause. “How does one determine whether a law is just or unjust? A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas: An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law”. He also points out this chilling reality “We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was legal.”
And then there is always the struggle that I have at times at being branded as “too extreme” in my views on this subject. I cannot speak for all of you in this group, I can only speak for myself; however, this atrocity that ends the life of nearly 4,000 precious little lives daily in our country at times overwhelms me. I just don’t understand how a county that was built upon Judeo-Christian principles can abide by this practice. In his letter, Luther says this “though I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist as I continued to think about the matter I gradually gained a measure of satisfaction from the label. Was not Jesus an extremist for love…Was Amos not an extremist for justice…Was not Paul an extremist for the Christian Gospel?” Maybe we should wear the badge of extremist with the attitude that it was placed there by Christ Himself.
It is a curious thing, the items that God uses to bring things into perspective for me sometimes. If you have never read this letter before by Martin Luther King, Jr., I would urge you to. It certainly has other points that can be used as encouragement for us in the pro-life struggle. And although I know that there may be theological difference amongst those of us in the group since we are from different denominations within the Christian faith, I would like to share words with you that help keep things in perspective for me when I am faced with criticism because of my strong Christian convictions… “Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, so help me God” - Martin Luther. Let us remember that because we cannot do otherwise, we are being strengthened by our Almighty and Glorious God.
Our Purpose
40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign with a vision to access God’s power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil to end abortion in America. The mission of the campaign is to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40 day campaign of prayer, fasting, and peaceful activism, with the purpose of repentance, to seek God’s favor to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life, thus bringing an end to abortion in America.
(Copyright © 2009 40 Days for Life)
This is a group specifically meant to provide information about and for the 40 Days for Life (Boulder, CO) campaigns. This blog's focus is the encouragement of participating members and others who might have a sincere interest in knowing more about this ongoing pro life prayer initiative. Maybe you want to join us or simply keep us and our efforts in your prayers; either is greatly appreciated! Above all we are praying that Jesus Christ will be reflected in our actions and that God's glory will shine forth.
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