Posted By cmbuuck on August 23, 2018

 

Life Affirming News

 

Woman Pregnant With Twins Takes Abortion Pill, Pro-Life Doctor Saves Them Before They Die

By Katie Franklin   July 20, 2018  / Washington DC

In the 11 years since Abortion Pill Reversal was launched by pro-life physicians George Delgado and Matt Harrison, abortion advocates have tried their best to discredit the life-saving protocol.

But just last week, the regimen received another validation of its safety and legitimacy following the presentation of Dr. William Lile—a board-certified ob-gyn who serves as the referral physician for three local pregnancy help centers—before a Florida hospital’s Institutional Review Board (IRB).

The remarkable event that brought Lile before the board was his role in helping a woman reverse her abortion, saving not one baby, but two; his patient was pregnant with twins.

Eight weeks pregnant, the woman sought a chemical abortion at an abortion facility, had profound regrets, and sought out help.

A chemical abortion, often referred to as the “abortion pill,” actually involves the use of two pills. The first pill, mifepristone (or RU-486), blocks progesterone, essentially starving the preborn baby of nutrients. The second pill, misoprostol, forces the baby to be expelled from the mother’s womb.

According to Lile, this fatal combination has a 97 percent success rate of killing a preborn baby.

The Abortion Pill Reversal treatment—backed by a network of 350 medical providers and a 24/7 hotline (1-877-558-0333), now operated by Heartbeat International through OptionLine—works by giving women extra progesterone, a natural hormone that is necessary to sustain a healthy pregnancy.

After counseling his patient, Lile prescribed progesterone in the form of a medication called Prometrium.

To the astonishment and gratitude of Lile, it worked.

“We were facing a 97% success rate of pregnancy termination of her twins, but were blessed to have viable twins with normal heart rates one month later,” Lile wrote in an email to pro-life friends. “There are no known negative effects to the developing baby when Prometrium is used.”

Today, the patient’s preborn twins are 12 weeks and thriving.

According to Lile, Prometrium is routinely used to prevent pregnancy loss when miscarriage is threatened or even to prevent preterm labor. Indeed, progesterone has the longstanding approval of the FDA as a safe medical intervention to fight miscarriages.

But following Lile’s successful use of the protocol, an anonymous complaint came before the board, launching an internal review of the event.

“I went to the meeting with science, supporting articles, and your prayers, and defended my use of Prometrium,” wrote Lile.

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In the end, science—and life—won out.

In this instance, the Institutional Review Board deemed the use of Prometrium after attempted chemical abortion with RU-486 to be reasonable.

“The IRB concluded that no further action would be needed,” Lile reports. “And that my actions were professional, appropriate, and good medical practice.”

To date, over 500 women have used Abortion Pill Reversal to save their preborn babies from abortion.

Further affirming the broad success of the treatment, in April, a new study was released to the public, demonstrating that the Abortion Pill Reversal protocol is both safe and effective for women who change their mind after beginning a chemical abortion.

The study, which followed 754 women who wanted to stop their in-progress chemical abortion, reported a 68 percent success rate in reversing the effects of mifepristone.

As Abortion Pill Reversal gains wider use, abortion advocates are wrestling with where it fits in their advocacy for “choice.” Last year, writing in the San Francisco Chronicle, one abortionist, Christine Henneberg, admitted, “To fall back on the argument that we don’t have enough scientific evidence on reversal methods is a cop-out.”

Rather than copping out, Lile says the physician has a duty to help patients with life-saving reversal treatments, comparing the use of Abortion Pill Reversal to the use of Narcan in fighting today’s opioid epidemic.

“If a patient makes the wrong decision and overdoses on a narcotic, as physicians, we have a duty to reverse the narcotic with a medication called Narcan,” he writes. “Over 60,000 Americans died from overdoses in 2016. 60,000 lives were lost to abortion in the first 21 days of 2016. This patient made a decision to take the lives of her twins. She regretted the decision, and we were blessed to be able to safely reverse the effect of the abortion medications.

“Saving lives is the primary goal of all called into the medical field.”

Following his review by the IRB, Lile remains focused on that goal.

“Why and who initiated the inquiry, I will never know,” he says. “However, we must take a stand to defend the preborn.”

LifeNews Note: Katie Franklin is managing editor for Pregnancy Help News and content writer at Heartbeat International. She previously served as director of communications for Ohio Right to Life and is a graduate of Denison University where she earned a B.A. in history in 2013. Katie lives in Columbus, Ohio with her husband Miles and daughter Elizabeth.

 

The First Registered Lobbyist with Down Syndrome

By Kayla McKeon  7/7/18 – LifeSiteNews

Says she loves being a role model to show “awareness of Down Syndrome and celebrate our abilities not our disabilities.”

Kayla McKeon lobbies on Capitol Hill for the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS). The 30-year-old New York native is the first registered lobbyist with Down syndome.

She was recruited for her position as a lobbyist by Sara Hart Weir, the president and chief executive of NDSS. Weir told the Washington Post: “I wanted to put somebody on staff like Kayla who would influence members of Congress. Kayla is one of the most impressive young, vibrant individuals with Down syndrome I have ever met. She’s spunky, she doesn’t take no for an answer, and she’s quite charming. She has all the characteristics of an exceptional lobbyist.”

Kayla serves as an advocate for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workplace. She excels in her job having helped pass the Able to Work Act, allowing people with disabilities to keep their savings and their free healthcare.

Kayla told the Post she feels she’s “making a huge difference” for people with disabilities, and “making history.”

 

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Posted By cmbuuck on August 23, 2018

 

Life Affirming News

 

Calling Evil “Good”

By Linda Bartlett May 22, 2018 LifeDate

As a Christian woman, mom, and grandmother from Iowa, I am compelled to ask: When Jesus returns, what will He say to pastors who advocate for abortion in His name? Who deny rights to unborn children, indeed the most vulnerable of all humans? Who praise a woman’s freedom from motherhood but seemingly care little about a woman held captive to sin?

In March, a group of Iowa clergy and religious leaders signed a letter to the Des Moines Register advocating for abortion on demand. Signers included Methodist, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, Episcopal, and Lutheran leaders.

The letter spoke against a bill that would prohibit abortions from the moment an unborn baby’s heartbeat is detectable, which is about six weeks of pregnancy. Some scientists give evidence for an unborn baby’s heartbeat beginning at 21 days; still others link to evidence that the heartbeat begins at about 18 days.

Oddly enough, the clergy who signed this letter claim that the Iowa bill prohibiting abortions is based on religion, not science. Now here is a real switch-a-roo. Government leaders are speaking up in defense of unborn babies because their hearts are beating, but church leaders are blaming them for being religious.

There are more questions. . .

The pro-abortion religious leaders maintain that women deserve to make their own decisions about their bodies and their pregnancies. Haven’t we heard this before? Slave owners used to say, “I have the right to do as I please with my property.” Which one of us dares look at another human person created in the image of God—of any color, age, stage of development, or place of residence—and declare them “property?” How does a female pregnant with a male child get away with claiming he is her “body”? What reasonable feminist would agree that an unborn baby girl with her own unique DNA is the “property” of the older woman who carries her?

When a biologically astute Christian woman willingly consents to or encourages sexual intercourse, what does she think might result? Does her choice about motherhood come before she is sexually intimate, or after?

Let’s say that a Methodist, United Church of Christ, or Lutheran woman has longed to be a grandmother. What would she think if her eight-months-pregnant daughter claims, “It’s my body and I’ve decided to abort.” Abort what? To abort means to “end” or to “terminate.” What pastor can, in Jesus’ name, tell a mother and her pregnant daughter that a grandchild is not to be considered human life worthy of protection?

And, speaking of protection, what about the man who fathers a child but has no legal right to save his child from abortion by scissors, spinal injection, or chemical burning? According to these religious leaders, must a daddy who turns to his own Heavenly Father for courage to do right by his unborn child be ignored?

I am ashamed for these pastors and religious leaders who signed a letter calling pro-life legislation “immoral.”

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter” (Isaiah 5:20).

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

That time is now. . 

But there is hope! There is always hope! As a Lutheran who believes God is faithful and just, I confess with all repentant sinners:

Most merciful God, we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. We have not loved You with our whole hearts, nor have we loved our (littlest, biggest, youngest, or oldest) neighbor as ourselves. We deserve Your punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us not according to our will but Yours.

Looking to the Cross of Christ, we hear the One who began His earthly life as an unborn Child say to His Father, “Forgive them.”

 

10 Reasons Embryo-Destroying Research Is Unnecessary

By Michael W. Salemink May 22, 2018 LifeDate

Forty years ago, the first child conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF) was born. Twenty years have passed since scientists isolated embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Technicians value ESCs because they can engineer them into any type of cell or tissue. Financial concerns have led IVF clients and clinicians to create more embryos than they transfer to wombs. These “extra” embryos have served as the main source for ESCs. Harvesting ESCs destroys embryos and puts to death God’s precious human creatures, depriving us every time of the blessing of another neighbor. Happily, embryo-destroying research is unnecessary. Here are ten reasons why:

Other sources. Researchers have obtained ESCs from placental tissue, umbilical cord blood, and amniotic fluid. These means don’t injure the little ones.

Adult stem cells. Grown-up bodies also make stem cells. Although they don’t possess all the potential of ESCs, they still offer many possibilities and applications.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). In 2006 a team of experts converted (adult) skin samples into cells functionally equivalent to ESCs. Lower costs and greater accessibility have made this the preferred process for stem cell experiments.

iPSC advancements. Several treatments utilizing iPSCs have met with promising successes, including trials for stroke, heart damage, spinal cord injury, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and cancers. ESCs have encountered problems, and almost exclusively like tumor formation and immune rejection.

Organs-on-a-chip (OOCs). Laboratories have developed circuit boards that have tiny fluid channels. Tissues can grow on these devices, which then substitute for and simulate the activities and mechanics of entire organs. They make possible more precise interactions and observations than ever before.

Natural Procreative Technology (NaProTech). This approach diagnoses and treats the underlying causes of an individual’s infertility. It serves fertility care rather than fertility control, focusing on medical priorities rather than technological ones. IVF often entirely overlooks these possibilities.

Embryo adoption. Couples have begun adopting and gestating IVF’s “surplus” embryos. Rather than leaving them in liquid limbo, discarding them altogether, or destroying them for study, this receives these children as the special treasures God has declared them to be.

We’re better than that. We don’t need to sacrifice children for progress. Our belief in human life’s significance is what drives our need for medical research in the first place. Martyring embryos only undermines that basic belief.

Better two heads than one. The fewer embryos we slay, the more will survive to apply their minds to scientific investigation and solving illnesses.

 Jesus is real treatment. Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection are the answer to disease and death. Forgiveness and everlasting life are already at work curing the sin that causes it all. God’s grace enables us to carry each other’s crosses until the healing is completed.

 

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Posted By cmbuuck on January 11, 2018

 

Life Affirming News

 

Seeing Masterpieces

Our Daily Bread – November 2017

Like a potter, God shaped man from clay and breathed into him the breath of life. Humans are the only creatures privileged to have the breath of God, setting us apart from other creatures, for only humans are created “in the image of God”. (Gen. 1:27), Each person is a unique individual, possessing the mental, emotional, and spiritual consciousness of our Creator and the capicity to have a personal relationship with Him. The Old testament patriarch Job may be the first person to acknowledge that “[God’s] hands shaped me and made me….[You clothed] me with skin and flesh and knit me together with bones and sinews”(Job 10:8,11-12). The prophet Jeremiah proclaimed that God had preordained his destiny and life before he was formed in his mother’s womb! (Jer.1:5) David, celebrating himself as one of God’s masterpieces, says that he has been “fearfully and wonderfully made” by God PS 139:13-16.Do you see yourself as God’s masterpiece? Reflect on how God has uniquely created you.

A Mother’s Hope: A refuge for homeless, pregnant women

A new nonprofit organization and ministry will help homeless and expectant mothers when they need it the most. A Mother’s Hope was founded by Stasia Roth, executive director, and fellow Catholics who saw an unmet need in the community.

Expectant mothers in need of immediate shelter have historically been underserved. Roth explained the stark reality of the situation: In 2016 alone, she said, 81 pregnant women called the 2-1-1 referral hotline looking for shelter. While there are women’s shelters in the area, they are often at capacity and therefore not options for women with an urgent need.

With this landscape in mind, A Mother’s Hope began from a desire to do something for these mothers, while also providing opportunities for stability.

A Mother’s Hope is in the fundraising stage now. The goal is to open its doors in March 2018.

Referrals will come from partner agencies. Roth said the house will be able to accommodate up to eight women and babies at a time, and mothers will be allowed to stay up to one year after giving birth. Staff will be on site 24/7 to cater to the needs of residents.

Roth understands those needs firsthand. A mother of three and previous social worker, she said helping others has always been second nature.

“I really enjoy helping someone see what could be and support them and try to figure out how to achieve it,” she said. “It’s amazing what they can do with support.”

A property has been secured that will serve as temporary housing for women who qualify. Roth said she wants the atmosphere to be welcoming and homelike. But A Mother’s Hope will provide much more than shelter: It will be a community of physical, emotional and spiritual support.

Prenatal care, education and help with employment, transportation and life skills will be all part of the package. After all, she said, shelter is just one piece of the puzzle and other factors contribute to positive outcomes.

“Moms will come here looking for prenatal needs to be met, but we can help them make positive changes, especially while they are pregnant,” she said.

Roth said the role of her staff will be one of an advocate. That means a hands-on approach.

“As a Christian organization, it’s important that we give the mothers the right skills and walk alongside them,” she said.

Still, that calls for accountability and personal responsibility on the part of the mothers. Residents will be expected to share in household chores, as well as have a faith goal to work on.For more information about A Mother’s Hope or to make a donation, visit A Mother’s Hope at http://amothershopefw.org/

 

Is There a Place Within Christian Marriage to Use Birth Control?

By Pastor Robert Fleischmann, CLR’s National Director

Yes, but an explanation is in order.

God is the author of human life (Deuteronomy 32:39), and human beings are the stewards (Genesis 9:5). Although Christians may decide when to have children, it is God who grants those children.

A Christian’s decision to use birth control, therefore, is a stewardship issue. Child-bearing is a blessing to be managed to the glory of God. It is not an entitlement. It is not even a command.

But what of Genesis 1:28? The instruction to “be fruitful and multiply” is not a command but rather announces a blessing. We already recognize this as it applies to animals (Genesis 1:22) with our current practices of neutering. Had Genesis 1:28 been a “command” the Apostle Paul would have been in conflict with his veneration of being single (1 Corinthians 7:1).

What are the factors in the decision to use birth control? Despite society’s move toward a gender-blind existence, it does not change the biological fact that women bear the children.They experience the dramatic changes and as the child-bearers they are uniquely positioned to bear extra responsibilities.

These changes and responsibilities often come with physical and emotional limits. To pursue more children but neglect the Biblical principle to care for one’s spouse and body is wrong. Children are a blessing (Psalm 127:3) to be cherished and cared for. The protection and care of all loved ones is a command for everyone (1 Timothy 5:8, Galatians 6:10).

Financial considerations may be an issue. Scripture warns us about giving in to greed (Ephesians 5:3). A Christian couple should carefully evaluate whether financial concerns are genuine in the essentials of raising a family or whether financial concerns reflect a love of the world more than a love for God.

Married couples wrestle with timing questions before they decide to add a child to their family (such as schooling or time in solidifying the relationship). Soul searching needs to be done in this regard.

Remember, children – regardless of timing, health or convenience – are blessings from God. Decisions rooted in an attitude that children are anything less than a blessing reflects a motive that doesn’t understand God’s will on the matter.

It is therefore within the realm of Christian freedom that a married couple can practice some form of birth control recognizing a proper motive of the heart that truly glorifies God.

Adapted from “The Christian and Birth Control” book, which provides doctrinally sound and practical information on the topic of birth control and family planning.

 

 Woman Gives Birth From Human Embryo Frozen for 24 Years

HOME POSTS   Mark Mellinger Dec 19, 2017

A woman living in East Tennessee has delivered the longest-frozen embryo to successfully come to birth. Emma Wren was born to Benjamin and Tina Gibson on Saturday, November 25, 2017, weighing 6 lbs. 8 oz. and measuring 20 inches long.

Prior to being transferred into Tina’s uterus at the National Embryo Donation Center (NEDC) in Knoxville earlier this year, Emma had been cryopreserved for more than 24 years. According to research staff at the University of Tennessee Preston Medical Library, baby Emma now holds the all-time record for the longest-frozen embryo to come to birth.

Emma was frozen on October 14, 1992 and thawed by NEDC Lab Director Carol Sommerfelt on March 13, 2017. Tina became pregnant with Emma as the result of a frozen embryo transfer (FET) performed by NEDC Medical Director Dr. Jeffrey Keenan on March 15, 2017. Tina, 26, spent her pregnancy carrying an embryo conceived just 1.5 years after her own birth. “Emma is such a sweet miracle,” proud papa Benjamin said. “I think she looks pretty perfect to have been frozen all those years ago.”

“The NEDC has been privileged to work with the Gibsons to help them realize their dreams of becoming parents,” said Dr. Keenan. “We hope this story is a clarion call to all couples who have embryos in long-term storage to consider this life-affirming option for their embryos.”

“It is deeply moving and highly rewarding to see that embryos frozen 24.5 years ago using the old, early cryopreservation techniques of slow freezing on day one of development at the pronuclear stage can result in 100 percent survival of the embryos with a 100 percent continued proper development to the day-3 embryo stage,” said Sommerfelt. “I will always remember what the Gibsons said when presented with the picture of their embryos at the time of transfer: ‘These embryos could have been my best friends,’ as Tina herself was only 25 at the time of transfer.”

The faith-based NEDC has gained distinction as the world’s leading comprehensive embryo adoption program, with more pregnancies (nearly 700) through embryo adoption than any other organization or clinic. Its dual purpose is to protect the lives and dignity of frozen embryos that would not be used by their genetic parents and to help other couples build the families they have longed for via donated embryos. Embryos have been donated to the NEDC from all 50 states and couples have traveled to Knoxville from all over the United States as well as some foreign countries for their embryo transfers. Our website is www.embryodonation.org.

 

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Posted By cmbuuck on May 11, 2017

 

Life Affirming News

 

HUMAN INTEREST

By Newsroom / Feb. 10, 2017

After an abortion reversal that saved her son, Amy says: ‘Every time I look at him, I’m just so thankful’, A Colorado woman, Amy Mendoza, shared her amazing story of abortion reversal with Denver’s Channel 7. After initially believing it wasn’t the right time in her life to have a child, Amy regretted her abortion decision. She heard her son’s heartbeat and recalled seeing something about abortion reversal on Facebook. Amy quickly searched online to find a way to save her son. She found a health center, Bella Natural Women’s Care that was able to reverse her abortion. Amy describes the joy that her son, Cruz, brings her: “Every time I look at him, I’m just so thankful.”

 

NATIONAL NEWS

Steven Ertelt / Feb 18, 2017 / Washington, DC

Norma McCorvey, who was the Jane Roe of the infamous Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court case legalizing virtually unlimited abortions, passed away today. McCorvey never had an abortion and eventually became pro-life and dedicated her life to overturning the horrible Supreme Court decision that bared her pseudonym. McCorvey died today at an assisted-living facility in Katy, Texas. She was 69. “I think it’s safe to say that the entire abortion industry is based on a lie…. I am dedicated to spending the rest of my life undoing the law that bears my name,” McCorvey says.

 

STORIES OF SACRIFICE

Pastor Robert Fleischmann / <pastorfleischmann@christianliferesources.com>

This past Valentine’s Day got me thinking about the true nature of love. It’s more than mere emotion, right? Consider the following.

On February 3, 1943, a German U-boat torpedoed the American transport ship SS Dorchester on its way to Greenland. As panic set in and the ship began to sink, four Army chaplains distributed life vests, cared for the wounded, and guided frantic servicemen to lifeboats.

When the life vests ran out, these chaplains gave their own to others and went down with the ship while praying for the safety of the survivors.

“It was the finest thing I have seen or hope to see this side of heaven,” one witness said.

These four chaplains demonstrated true love – not merely emotional attachment, but concern for others ahead of themselves. This was sacrifice.

We see such love in the sacrifice of a mother who values the life of her unborn baby above her own convenience, in the husband who patiently cares for his ailing wife, and in the family who accepts God’s timing in the death of a loved one.

And we demonstrate this love as we give of our blessings to benefit others. We sacrifice because we are the beneficiaries of the greatest sacrificial love this world has ever seen. “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

 This is sacrifice. This is love.

 

The Lord Blesses as the Life Movement Grows

Karen Blank, President of Fort Wayne Lutherans for Life

The National March for life celebrates its 44th year and continues to grow. This is also true of the LCMS Life Conference that followed on Saturday and Sunday across the river in Arlington, VA.  Tim Goeglein observed in his dinner address to the LCMS Lifers that there are more young people, college age people in attendance at the conference and the National March for Life than he has seen previously.  He also observed that movements in our country have a pattern that is necessary for the success of the movement.  The movement usually begins with the intellectuals and slowly but surely broadens out to include the middle class if it is to succeed.  Tim attests to this pattern coming to fruition in the Life movement.

Before the march up Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court building, the National Right to Life presented a program of speakers that lasted about one and a half hours.  The appearance and speech of the Mike Pence, Vice President of the United States, was a defining moment for the March. In his address the former Indiana Governor mention at least three times that our nation needs a culture of Life.  He charged us/all citizens to be active in that endeavor. Many other speakers echoed his charge to us.  We do not give up or give in.  We will continue to affirm life from the womb to the tomb.  We thank and praise our Creator, our Savior Jesus for raising more and more young people who will carry the banner when we older ones have completed our tour of duty.

All people of faith are charged to continue to pray the Lord Jesus that He will protect the lives of the pre-born whose lives may be snuffed out by abortion and pray for their parents who are also victims of abortion. We also need to pray for those people who would choose physician assisted suicide. LCMS President Matthew Harrison and ethics professor John Pless reminded us that suffering is not evil in itself. One does not live very many years on this earth without realizing we will endure our share of suffering.  Our suffering is very little in comparison to our Savior’s birth, His life, and His suffering and death on the cross.

Saint Paul assures us in Romans 8:18, 23b-25: “For I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. . . .  but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

Perhaps this is a sidebar but it is worth noting. The people I met in the March as well as people I met on the subway train back to the hotel in Arlington, VA where the conference met, all seemed to share similar opinions about the majority of people in our nation.  We are hard-working people who are concerned about our rights, i.e. life, religion, speech, etc. Also, it seems that most of us do not believe what we see and read in the national media outlets. The National March for Life has proven for 44 years who and what our country is truly about. We believe in our God given right to life on this earth even with its sufferings. We live our God-given lives with a zest for life and appreciate the sounds of a crying baby, exploring teens, young parents learning about sacrifice, middle agers waiting for the first grand baby, and seniors delighting in their grandchildren and great grandchildren. In all of these ages we worship and glorify our Creator, the Lord and Savior of all people.

 

Kyle Was Saved From Abortion and Adopted at Birth. Now He’s Saving Others From Abortion

Gayle Irwin / Mar. 1, 2017 / Washington, DC

Kyle Gudger is like most 10-year-old boys—he enjoys Legos, robotics, and playing drums. However, he is also unique. Kyle is among the one percent of children whose birthmother made an adoption plan when she faced an unplanned pregnancy.

His biological mother’s choice to not abort eleven years ago, and her story is a primary reason Kyle participated in the Baby Bottle Boomerang, a winter fundraiser for True Care Women’s Resource Center in Casper, Wyo.

“I want to give kids the same option I had—I want to give them the chance to live by helping the moms,” Kyle said. “Putting a couple of coins in can change the course of history. That person [saved from abortion] could become famous, could become president, could make a difference in the world.”

Kyle collected just over $24 and put the bottle of money into the basket with other coin-filled baby bottles his church presented to True Care last month.

Seeing youth like Kyle participate in events and other ways to help True Care is inspiring, said the organization’s president.

”Helping the pro-life organization has a special significance to Kyle Gudger, who turns 11 on March 14—his adoptive parents’ wedding anniversary. His birthmother went to a pregnancy resource center, and he knows she could have made a different choice.

“It’s a privilege to be adopted,” he said. “I think it’s important for a kid to have a father and a mother and to feel loved. I wouldn’t be sitting here if it hadn’t been for my birthmother and the decision she made. I’m thankful.”

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Posted By cmbuuck on January 13, 2017

 

Life Affirming News

 

HERE WE STAND

“Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason…I am bound by the Scriptures…and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. “I cannot and I will not retract anything since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. “I cannnot do otherwise, here I stand, may God help me, Amen.”

Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms, 1521

 

We dedicate this issue of Life Affirming News in memory of Dr. Jean Garton

Lutherans For Life mourns the death of our dear sister, Dr. Jean Garton. Dr. Garton became a leader in advocating respect and protection for every human being following the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. She served instrumentally in the formation of Lutherans For Life in 1978 and accepted the position of its first president.

In her plenary address, co-founder and former president of Lutherans For Life, Dr. Jean Garton, said “I’m going to make sure I’m with the right group … If you read the media, they’ll tell you that people who are ‘anti-choice’ are rabid, rigid, ranting, raging, radical rebels. But I know that you are patient, pious, peaceful, prayerful, passionate, patriots. That’s you … The naysayers have tried to bury us many times. But the truth is that this great pro-life movement of which Lutherans For Life has been a part since the very beginning, this great movement is alive and well and growing. But with our public, persistent pursuit of protection for the unborn and now, increasingly, the ‘long-born,’ there is a price to pay—and no surprise about that. When Jesus sent out His disciples … He said He was sending them out like sheep among the wolves. And not much has changed … We need to be prepared for the incredible battle ahead.” She thanked those in attendance for the “natural, needful work that all of you do.”

 

Standing Firm as a Follower

Lynette Auch / Life Date / December 7, 2016

I don’t believe there could be a more appropriate theme than “Here We Stand”—based on Ephesians 6:13—as we step into the 500th anniversary year of the Reformation: “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” It reflects our human struggles as described in the prior verse in Ephesians: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (6:12 NIV).

These struggles drove Martin Luther to search for answers from Scripture for the hopeless, broken, and sinful state of humanity. Luther’s conclusion was that we have a “righteousness that God gives freely by His grace to people who don’t have righteousness of their own.”* This is the foundation of the Christian church today.

I was blessed to have Christian parents who brought me to be baptized and shared with me the faith that Luther speaks of. Neither of my parents had the opportunity to study beyond eighth grade—despite both having had dreams of being in the medical profession. But that did not stop them from becoming leaders as a husband, wife, farmer, mother, father, church, and community member. My mother, especially, was a pillar of the faith!

I was inspired and intrigued by the thoughts of Mike Donehey, lead singer of the Christian group Tenth Avenue North, who noted that Jesus did not ask anyone to be a “leader.” Curious, I did some research. I found numerous examples when Jesus invites individuals of the Bible to “follow me”—but with no mention of being a “leader.” Even Jesus didn’t consider Himself a leader. “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” (John 5:19 NIV).

With that in mind, that leaves us with only One leader: Our Heavenly Father. We are all followers.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV).

We are “God’s handiwork” (or “handmade” by God) with work already prepared for us to do. Let us say “yes” to the opportunities before us and say Here I Stand … to speak the truth, reflecting the love of God.

• in defense and protection of the precious, vulnerable, human lives—that are each “hand-made” by God—from the moment of conception to natural death.

• to teach our children and grandchildren who they are and WHOSE they are. Scripture reminds us that we are NOT our own. We were created by God in His image, fully human, male and female, as spiritual beings—body, mind, and soul. We belong to Him. Losing our way in sin, we were bought back—redeemed—by the blood of Christ Jesus and called to love and glorify Him by living holy and honorable lives.

• in defense of marriage as God designed it between one man and one woman and remembering sex is a gift from God to be shared within the marriage bed only.

• in obedience to God and His commandments as the “great Leader.”

“[Jesus] said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’ … And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37, 39b).

My mother was the leader she was because she was a follower of Jesus Christ—the ultimate Follower of His heavenly Father. With Jesus as the example, I prefer to be a follower rather than a leader. It takes the pressure and focus off me and my shortcomings and places the focus on the heavenly Father and His will for my life. Leadership is simply the byproduct of being a follower of the heavenly Father. As followers of Christ Jesus, we will “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might … Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:10, 13).

 

Standing Firm in Silence

Virigina Flo / Life Date / Winter 2016

Stand firm in your faith. Hold your ground. Never give in to things that go against Scripture. Use your voices so your beliefs will not be stamped out due to lack of being heard.

We live in an uncertain world that is on shaky ground. It’s like an earthquake challenging our ability to stay on our feet and not get sucked into the wide-open crevasses of anti-Christian ideology. The world’s challenge to Scripture seems logical to some as our freedom and our rights become the core of the discussions—making Christian positions seem out of date and no longer relevant to the world we live in now.

Life issues are often right in the center of any discussion regarding freedom and rights. Yet the world, while focusing on personal rights, puts the most vulnerable at both ends of life’s spectrum at risk by failing to acknowledge the most fundamental of all human rights—the right to life!

How can we remain silent when life itself is in question? Standing firm and trusting in Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior of life, and being willing to use our voices to speak up and share the truth about the value of human life is so very important as the world crumbles around us.

In this culture that ridicules our core beliefs, we tend to fall back when the fighting gets tough. Let’s remember what Martin Luther said: He could do nothing other than to stand firm and not go against his conscience and the clear teachings of Scripture.

But is simply standing firm in our beliefs but keeping it to ourselves enough? We surely can stand firm silently. That’s fairly easy. But there are things going on around us today that we cannot discount or ignore, things like God’s creation in the womb being disparaged and killed. Nor can we close our eyes to the danger of minimizing the value of human life at life’s end. Using “quality of life” as the value system by arbitrarily measuring who deserves to live and who should die is a pure and simple act of the devil. It reminds me of John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Jesus overcame death, yet the world is so anxious to use death as a solution to life’s problems.

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm” (Ephesians 6:13).

This is our 2017 Life Sunday theme verse. From it we know Jesus is the whole armor of God, and we can lean on Him to avoid any fears we have of speaking up. We, as Christians, were given a voice, and yet we often are afraid to use our voice for fear of offending someone or being labeled as a radical or nonconformist. We are all guilty of not wanting to be unpopular, so we keep silent. Offending someone should never be our goal but rather speaking the truth in a loving and caring manner—that’s how we use our voices For Life.

Arguments from some about when life begins, which inexcusably focus on eliminating the rights of the baby in the womb, are a perfect opportunity to speak the truth in love. We need to do this because this is not an abstract issue. It is a matter of life and death. For example, Planned Parenthood’s harvesting and selling of baby parts in order to use them in research is totally acceptable to many. These babies are valuable because of who made them—not just for their “parts.” How can we not be outraged at the very thought of ripping apart babies so small and so vulnerable?

My heart goes out to those struggling with guilt from the secret sin of abortion—a burden carried by millions. These women and men should not be deprived of the forgiveness Jesus earned for them when they have a repentant heart. We need to speak up and let them know they can have the forgiveness Jesus bought for them through His life, death, and resurrection.

And, when the end of life is near, may we be willing to speak up for those who are the most vulnerable here as well. States across this nation are considering legalizing assisted suicide. We have a voice. We need to use it! Do not let the voice of the evil one be the most vocal. Be voices For Life!

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Posted By cmbuuck on January 12, 2017

Life Affirming News

 

Life Matters

Father and maker of all, you adorn all creation with splendor and beauty, and fashion human lives in your image and likeness. Awaken in every heart reverence for the work of your hands, and renew among your people a readiness to nurture and sustain your precious gift of life. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen

 

CDC Shows Decline in U.S. Abortions to Lowest Level in Decades  

LifeWire / Dec. 1, 2016

47 states report 664,435 abortions in 2013, a 5 percent decrease from the previous year.

Abortion continued to decline across the United States, according to most of the nation’s state health departments.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control released its annual “Abortion Surveillance Report,” listing abortion data from 47 reporting states — but not including Maryland, New Hampshire, or California (the country’s most populous state). According to the latest information for 2013, a total of 664,435 abortions were reported — a decrease of 5 percent from the previous year and a decline of 20 percent from 2004. The figures mark a historic low as recorded by the government agency since abortion was legalized in 1973.

The CDC finds that both the abortion rate (the number of abortions for every 1,000 women of child-bearing age) and the abortion ratio (the number of abortions per 1,000 live births) have also declined, indicating that increasing number of American women are rejecting abortion as a solution to unexpected pregnancy.

Bear in mind, the CDC numbers do not provide an absolute number of abortions performed in the United States. However, they do offer a glimpse of the continuing downward trend. Even so, the CDC report confirms that the welcome drop in the number of abortions continues.

 

Netherlands Offers Euthanasia for Alcoholics

NRL News Today / 11/24/16

Dutch expand eligibility for euthanasia to include alcoholism.

Mark Langedijk, a 41-year-old Dutch man, ended his life by lethal injection rather than living as an alcoholic, in a new extension of Holland’s euthanasia law.

The man’s brother explains in a recently-published magazine account why the man decided that death was the only way to escape from his addiction to drink.

The scope of the Dutch, introduced 16 years ago to apply only to those in unbearable suffering, has already widened so that those who wish to end their lives include many whose problems include “social isolation and loneliness.”

 

Dutch Team Creates 3D Atlas of Human Embryo

Bioedge.com / 11/25/16

Dutch anatomists have published an amazing 3D atlas of the human embryo (click here), offering 14 interactive three-dimensional models of human embryology and a database of 34 embryos that spans the first two months of human development. The innovative atlas could replace textbooks with more than a century of outdated information.

 

Doctors Association Refuses to Back Euthanasia in Australia

November 26, 2016  

After surveying its members the Australian Medical Association has reaffirmed its opposition to euthanasia and assisted suicide. “Doctors should not be involved in interventions that have as their primary intention the ending of a person’s life,” says the latest version of its end-of-life care policy. But doctors do “have an ethical duty to care for dying patients so that death is allowed to occur in comfort and with dignity” The statement comes at a time when some state legislatures are debating euthanasia. A bill failed earlier in South Australia.

 

This State Now Requires Abortion Clinics to Bury Aborted Babies Instead of Selling Their Parts

Micaiah Bilger / Nov 29, 2016

New Texas rules requiring a dignified burial of aborted babies’ bodies will go into effect on Dec. 19, state health officials said this week.

The new rules, introduced in July by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, require that abortion facilities, hospitals and other medical centers either cremate or bury the remains of aborted and miscarried babies. State officials said the rules do not apply to miscarriages or abortions that take place at home.

The Washington Post reports the health commission finalized the rules on Monday. State health officials previously said the rules will bring about “enhanced protection of the health and safety of the public.”

The new rules are part of pro-life Gov. Greg Abbott’s L.I.F.E. Initiative, a four-point plan to increase life-affirming support, eliminate all taxpayer funding to abortion groups like Planned Parenthood and curb abortions in Texas.

Aborted babies’ bodies should not be “treated like medical waste and disposed of in landfills,” Abbott said previously. “… it is imperative to establish higher standards that reflect our respect for the sanctity of life.”

During a commission hearing in August, supporters said the rules are necessary because abortion facilities treat unborn babies’ bodies like garbage and sometimes dump them down public sewer drains, Fox 7 reported. State Rep. Mark Keough mentioned a gruesome case in 2005 when a woman who worked near a Houston abortion facility saw tiny aborted babies’ limbs and other body parts in a parking lot when a sewer line broke.

Abortion activists oppose the rules, claiming that they will create additional costs and burdens for abortion facilities. There also are rumblings that they may file a lawsuit.

David Brown, an attorney for the Center for Reproductive Rights, told the Texas Tribune the rules are an “unnecessary burden and an intrusion” on women’s rights and beliefs.

“These new restrictions reveal the callous indifference that Texas politicians have toward women,” Brown said.

However, health department spokesperson Carrie Williams said their research indicates that the rules will not increase costs.

 

The great joy of Christmas is multiplied when we realize our Savior, at His birth, had already humbled Himself for nine months because of His unparalleled love for all humanity from the moment of conception. We pray that you continue to see the lowly Jesus of the manger in the lowliness of the unborn, the despairing, the infirm, and the dying. We pray that you do unto them as you would do unto Him so that they in turn would see in you the love and hope and help of Jesus, and together we would join the angerls and sing “Glory to God in the highest.”

LifeDate

 

 

 

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