January 4, 2012 • 10:12 am 0
So.. What wakes me from my hibernation from blogging?
This article today: http://cnsnews.com/node/491269
The following is a string of comments, starting with the first one I left, followed by a couple responses…I think you will get the jest of my reaction to the article.
Filed under: Prayer, Thoughts, Abortion, Change, Christ, Government, Hearts, Jesus, Love, Role
May 16, 2011 • 7:17 am 4
Speachless… Pretty much sums up what I am after reading this article…and it leaves me all the more determined to fight for the voice of Men, and encourage them to stand up…
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/news/5005398/Schools-arrange-secret-abortions
Father God.. I pray Men will stand up, and be the Husbands and Dads you want them to be…
EDIT: I know this is in New Zealand, but it does not matter. The fight there is the same fight here. Men must stand up…
Filed under: God's View, Prayer, Abortion, Men, Prayer
May 6, 2011 • 7:13 am 0
There is a part of me that will never understand, and never know the feelings of being in a crisis pregnancy. Did I have sex before I was married? Sure. Was I lucky not to have to deal with a pregnancy before I was married? Absolutely. In many ways I was the one who thought he was invincible and it would not happen to me. My bet is that most don’t think that it will happen to them. Not to mention the married couples who opt for abortion, and listening to my mother in-law these couples have all kinds of reasons.
You know who isn’t invincible and who has no say in the matter? …The person conceived by our arrogance of invincibility and the one not given a voice in our reasons why we aren’t ready…the one who can’t do ANYTHING.
I read this yesterday from a woman who has been on both sides.
In that moment of reading that TWEET from Tammy… I understood. I don’t know and will never know, but I understand. There was pain then. Still to this day after all the healing Tammy has been through…There is still, I won’t call it pain, but a longing to know. Tammy knows she is forgiven by the King of Kings, and knows her guilt is wiped clean. But you see she knows… She knows what I do not… But I understand. I wonder about the men from her story, and not understanding their role in her knowing… Did they know they could do ANYTHING?
Because I understand I push forward into an unknown. Because I understand I look at the forest of trees, caused by every abortion an wonder how I will ever chop them all down… I look into the tasks before me an try to make reason of why this why now… Then I think of a this:
My wife is beside me everyday, and she knows I would go to the ends of the earth for her. My children our my mission. But how I grew up is an important factor in how today I love my wife and children.
I grew up the youngest an only boy with 7 older sisters. I would do anything in my power to protect them and keep them from harm. ANYTHING. I have seen them all become successful, and each one has a man in their lives that supports and loves them through ANYTHING…. ANYTHING….
Anything God Asks I will do. one tree at a time…Anything he places before me I will stand up to and in the name of Christ…ANYTHING…the anything now is Men who lack the understanding of knowing that they have a voice. When their world of invincibility comes crashing down, they do not have to sit idle. They can stand, and they to can to ANYTHING… My mission is to turn knowing they can do ANYTHING, into SOMETHING, knowing that they to have a voice when they thought they had NOTHING.
One tree at a time….
Filed under: Men, Prayer, regular, Abortion, Christ, Faith, God, Men, Tasks
April 18, 2011 • 11:51 am 0
It is a habit… I do it everyday. Why… I don’t know but I do… I read the editorials in the local paper. As my lunch is spinning through the Microwave, or I pass through the break room to get water… I stop, open Section A to the third to last page. Well today was no different, until I glanced to the right hand side.
Printed there was an article on the Myths of Planned Parent hood that was originally printed in the Washington Post. Here is the sentence that got me:
Here is a factual statement: Planned Parenthood’s abortion care represents 3 percent of its medical services — 332,000 terminations out of a total of 11.4 million services provided in 2009.
332,000? I let out an audible grown. I am not going to go on about whether Planned Parent hood should be funded or not. If you have read any of my other posts on Abortion, trying to end abortion via the government, court cases, de-funding will never work.
So let me give you another number to chew on, and you will see why the 3% quoted above is not insignificant. 1.2 million is a large number. The City of Louisville KY has a population of about 800,000. 1.2 million would make most fairly comfortable money wise if we had that in the bank. 1.2 million is the average number of abortions in the US for the past 5 years at least.
So just because Planned Parenthood says 3% doesn’t excuse the fact that not recorded in the article is they do almost 30% of the abortions nation wide. Nice way to try an minimize the number of abortions they perform.
Why do I type this now? Because for me 1 abortion, is to many whether at Planned Parenthood or else where. My heart aches. And I grown for these unborn children.
THERE IS A BETTER WAY…THERE IS A BETTER WAY… IN THE CHAOS THERE IS A BETTER WAY… Father God there is a better way… I read that article today and I am again facing the doors of the abortion center, watching as a man who apathetically did nothing for so long. No more… You put these tasks before me… Who am I to turn them down. You show me the better way through the Love of your Son…
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Filed under: God's View, Abortion, Faith, Prayer
February 9, 2011 • 11:29 am 4
Ever look back and try to figure out where and why interest in a certain issue was sparked? That is exactly what I have been asking since moving deeper into the issue of abortion. As I wrote in the intro to Prayer for life, I was fine with my position against abortion and the belief that I would never choose nor condone the choice for abortion. Somewhere back in time though, something had to start changing that mindset. Something had to make me realize this is a much bigger issue than I could imagine.
Before November, I did not nor did I know anyone personally that has had an abortion. Now I may have met women that had, and of course for obvious reasons never knew nor did the topic come up. What I do know is that for awhile now this issue has been percolating stronger in the back of my mind. Where did it start?
Well today I read a blog post by Tammy Hodge. She is a fellow blogger (whose blog I found by a random link 3 years ago), and a person I have never met in real life. From all indications following her blog and twitter, Tammy is as real as you can get when it comes to being human and following Christ. Her blog post today was about the gifts of her Children and in it she says:
I do not know why I have been blessed with these two children. I really don’t. But I do know this…they are the most beautiful gifts I have ever received. Most assuredly undeserved.
And that last sentence sums up Tammy, understanding her life as a gift is undeserved, but a gift of grace from God.
What you need to know about Tammy is she, as a teenager, had two Abortions. She has blogged extensively about her story, and the moments she had to tell her husband Brent, and her two children Kassidi and Dakota. (I will have to dig to find the links, they are powerful.) She is currently working on a book about the day she told Kassidi about her abortions.
About 3 years ago or so when I first read about her abortions and the pain caused by the men in her life at that time, my heart broke. If you know anything about me you will know that a man hurting a woman in anyway just is not acceptable. (Let me stop and say that I am not immune to this, I have done my share. Thank God for his Grace) And that is what intrigued me about Tammy, and her story. It is a constant question I have had, what if men stood up and took on the task they are called by God to do? What you find out about Tammy’s story: Brent, her husband, was/is a man who stands by her after hearing about the abortions, and has helped her with the healing because he to understands Grace. So I have to wonder what would happen if Men stood up sooner? What if with Christ they accepted the responsibility, placed on them by God? The issue of abortion, and many other issues, could just about be erased. That is the prayer I pray.
Since last November I have met and talk with women who have had abortions, and their stories are very much the same. But Tammy’s blog, that is where this all got sparked in my heart… A blog post I found by a random link that WordPress appended to the bottom of one of my early posts. Now God is putting tasks in front of me that I never imagined I would be involved in.
Please read Tammy’s Post MY GIFTS, and understand the true power of God’s gift of Grace.
And men… Please, Please, Stand up.
December 15, 2010 • 12:51 pm 1
She was young maybe 18 or 19. She stood at the door alone. Tears filled her eyes, voices behind her pleading for her not to open the door. Did I mention she walked up alone. The clinc escorts didn’t even see her until she got to the door. She didn’t pause for just a moment and then go in. No, she stood there alone for a good 5 minutes. The voices “Please go next door” “Please let us talk to you about the options.” “You don’t have to do this.” “There are people that will help you through.” Then she opened the door and walked in…
Sure there were people…. But where was the man? I have to just wonder if the man involved said: “Look I know this isn’t what we wanted, we aren’t ready, but I will stand up with you.” Would she have walked through that door? Would she have even made the walk down the street?
Her face has been in my prayers since Friday. My gut wrench’s as I think about her tears… Father God be with her.
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Click here more information on Prayer for Life
November 19, 2010 • 8:00 am 3
Friday morning edit…. What has this come to? http://www.birthornot.com/ I am utterly shocked, no I did not vote for either, I can only hope it is a hoax, but guessing not… Father God, how is this even a question. Father God oh how you love them…
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This post is my journaling from day two, and reflection about a week after. To read the introduction post click here: Prayer for Life Mission
To read Day 1 click here: Day 1
To read Day 2 click here: Day 2
To read Day 3 click here: Day 3
Reflections 4
Men whether you like it or not you are leading. Whether you are married or not you are leading. Whether you have children or not you are leading. The eyes of the world are on the men. The failings of this world are on men.
Here is where I am going with this. The other day I was asked some questions. (Warning these are tough questions turn back now if you want):
Can anything break your faith? Tied to a chair, Gun to your wife’s/child’s head, you are asked to deny Christ, what do you do?
Yeah that’s right put up or shut up time huh. Every natural instinct in me in that situation would want to wrestle from the bonds and throw myself at the person with the gun. Every natural instinct would be to yell “I deny him I deny him”
But then I reflected for a second after I heard the question. How am I leading? How am helping my family be equipped for the spiritual battle? Have my wife and children seen enough of Christ in me to follow Him, to be assured of their salvation, to know that they are justified by Christ, and in the process of being sanctified by God’s spirit, and lead to the Glorification with God in heaven. Leading my family and not failing means, I am confident I have shown them enough of Christ in me. I have been their example. That if the trigger is pulled, yes my heart would be crushed and the pain unimaginable, I would be assured to see them again in heaven with my God. Have I lead/done enough that they are living in eternity now, where death (no matter how it happens) is just a step in the path of eternity.
Men you may never be put in the literal situation denying Christ, but everyday we are facing the barrel of a fully cocked and loaded world. The world is embroiled in a spiritual battle that many men apathetically watch go on. It is a world that will via for the attention of our children. A world that will tear them away from the life of eternity Christ promises us. Materialism, greed, sex, drugs… bullies in the school yard, magazines and tv shows telling them how to look or what their self worth should be. All of it lies that lead to “Do what ever feels good” “It is all in what YOU can do” “You control you”…. All of this is waiting to take their life. Satan wants the children for his own and he is ready to pull the trigger.
This is where the spiritual battle over abortion must be fought. Men must stand up and put themselves in the path of this world before it affects the lives that lead to steps towards a clinic door.
What do you do men?
Only because Jesus Christ stood the gap for us can we claim the righteousness that God created us for. Christ died for the gap that we allowed to happen between man and God. It is time to trust in the Righteousness of Christ in you, to trust Him and stand the gap in this world for who ever is following you.
It is time to lead as God intended, it is time to lead for Eternity.
Day 4 – But not the last Day
SHE DANCED…Like she had just scored a touchdown in the Super Bowl. SHE DANCED What was her victory? She had just successfully escorted a girl into the clinic. They say anger can get the best of you if you let it. And I admit I was angry. Father God you dance over us as we stand up for your Son, she danced in the face of your Son. How are they so unaware?
OK.. now that I have that off my chest.
Parents brought their Children with them today, three teenage boys and a teenage girl. Thank you to those parents for having the strength through Christ to bring them out. This is where the battle has to start, but not end.
Here is the thing. We pray that God will lead us to his will, and take us to places he needs us to work. When in reality if you stay connected to Him, and you recognize He is there all the time. If you realize every moment is for Him…He already has you where he needs you at that moment. You are filling a purpose for His kingdom in every moment.
The debate about the issue will go on, but I don’t want to be part of the debate. The debate will get us no where fast. To think we can change the minds of others leaves each side looking foolish as they attempt. We no better understand their story, than they understand ours. Do we take the time to ask? No, we just allow the debate to rage on, without doing anything that would affect the debate.
This past four days can not be wasted. I am humbled by the people who joined me this week, and grateful for a God who has looked past my imperfection to see the work I can do for His perfect will.
The debate over the issue will go on which we can not control. However, the battle lines are drawn in the dirt, the same dirt that Jesus wrote in before he addressed the Pharisees. I can not stand by idle as they did any longer. In the name of Christ Jesus I can not.
Men God is asking? “Where are you?
Filed under: God's View, Leadership, Men, Prayer, Abortion, Christ, Faith, Men, Spiritual Battle
November 18, 2010 • 8:00 am 0
This post is my journaling from day two, and reflection about a week after. To read the introduction post click here: Prayer for Life Mission
To read Day 1 click here: Day 1
To read Day 2 click here: Day 2
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Reflection 3
Men want to end the attack of the spiritual forces on this world, on our families? It is time to step up and lead the way God intended us to lead.
Eph 5:25-33 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30for we are members of his body. 31“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”32This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Eph 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
So men how are you doing? How have you lead your wife to Christ today? Have you served her needs today? Does she know Christ better today than she did yesterday? How have you done leading the kids today? Did you ignore there calls of Daddy… Daddy…. Daddy… Only to watch them sulk away?
Husbands are responsible to lead their family’s growing faith, and there relationship with God will become stronger based on his example of following Christ. Take the wife as the basic example. I look at Adam and his inaction as Eve is talking to the serpent, and think if Adam had just taken responsibility, would Eve have bit the apple? And it is clear that God called Adam into account first Gen 3:9 But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” … So our wives are put under our responsibility. That does not mean however, that women can’t find Christ without husbands, just that once the marriage covenant under Christ is made the men become the spiritual leader of the home.
Journal Day 3
Small Victory – 7 women went in today, and 2 of those came out asking for help. Doesn’t mean they won’t still abort, but at least now the will be fully presented with another way.
A girl walking down the street to catch a bus to school had never walked down as far as the clinic today. She did today, and one of the women from A Woman’s Choice was able to talk with her. This girl’s sister was post abortion, and needed help. She herself wanted information on pregnancy prevention…. Now both of them will be introduced to Christ through the work at A Woman’s Choice.
They are not our enemy. The pregnant women, the father of the child, the mothers taking in daughters, the friends, the escorts who volunteer their time, the workers at the clinic, and the Dr. They are not the enemy. They are as worthy of the Grace of God as I am. The enemy is the spiritual forces at work, leading people astray by lying to them. Lying to them about their worth and value.
They are intimidated. The women walking down the street see the huge group standing in front of the clinic. These girls and women are already nervous about even walking in those doors, and facing the procedure. They are scared and the sight of the people standing outside the clinic can be intimidating. They see us as condemning; they see us as judging… Are we? No we are on the downhill side pushing up against forces that have gravity on their side. We are not angry with the woman. The last thing we want is for her to not experience the love of Christ. We are angry that we even have to stand there and fight this battle from the bottom pushing up. But why are they really scared and intimidated? In the bigger story, if men were doing what they are suppose to be doing, these girls and women would never be put in position to make this decision.
Jesus during his ministry moved to the bottom of the hill, and only pushed back when he saw those that know better not doing anything. When he entered the temple, and saw the money changers. He took action, and he pushed, but his push had a point. As I said on day one, these people were taught by the religious leaders standing there passively knowing better and doing nothing. Jesus knocking over the tables was not for the money changers, it was for those who stood by knowing better doing nothing. My table is being knocked over.
Where is the common ground here? If both sides of an issue don’t want to fight on the crisis side of the issue, where is the common ground? They may never believe what we do, they may never come to know the loving God that we know… But they do not want to be there any more than we do. They don’t want to be needed and frankly I don’t either.
There is a common ground… The common ground comes at the intent of the heart. Two conversations with two different escorts, one female and one male… In 5 minutes with each, by asking the right question about the issue…we found the common ground that would, if done, could eradicate the issue. Change the intent of people’s actions long before they even get close to the doors of the clinic.
From my view, the plan for life is 100% God’s and His plan is 100% truth. The answer is 100% focus on him and his plan. This answer is 100% sure to end the issue. We can only do what God tasks us with, and pray that his perfect plan and will, will be linked together through Christ to fight this spiritual battle.
Filed under: God's View, Leadership, Men, Prayer, Abortion, Christ, Faith, Men, Prayer
November 17, 2010 • 8:00 am 1
This post is my journaling from day two, and reflection about a week after. To read the introduction post click here: Prayer for Life Mission
To read Day 1 click here: Day 1
Reflection 2
The response from the men was more than I expected. Slowly men started to commit to being present downtown and praying and facing this spiritual battle head on. What is the role of men in this Spiritual battle? To stand to the side and watch those not equipped fight for their lives? No, it is to protect serve and even die for God’s Kingdom.
Evil spiritual forces are spreading the lies that men are not needed in this battle for life. That man has no part in protecting life. In God’s plan this is not the case. From the beginning God put man in place to protect His creation.
Gen 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
T hen in Ephesians we learn how men are to stand and protect the Church from the lies.
Eph 3:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
The book of Ephesians is a metaphor for Christ’s Church, and if my understanding is correct Men are to be the leaders and Sheppard’s of the church. Would that not put us into position to be the armor bearers for Christ’s Church? So I called men to start standing firm in protecting the Church from the attacks of the spiritual battle, and to stand up and fight by protecting the life of the unborn.
As one of the female counselors from AWC, who is involved everyday in this battle, said Tuesday “I felt more protected having this many men around”
Day Journal 2
There is a bigger story.
Today I spoke with a lady who faces this battle every day. She is Catholic, I am not (although I was raised Catholic). My questions as we talked: What are we doing this for? Why are we sitting/standing here? Our conclusions as we discussed. Because of the Grace of God poured out through His son on us. Everyone involved is worthy of that Grace. Everyone is worthy of God’s love. Every one of them is worthy to be called God’s child. And then there was this: We are so busy bickering about whom does what among the churches we forget what we have in common. Christ.
Today I saw and recognized the face of this story that is a face we don’t often see. White, Black, Asian. 15 years old and up. Mothers and daughters. Friends. Parents with children. And if the cars that pulled up to drop off were any indication, income level is not a dividing factor either. In this story there is no social divide and bickering when they walk in those doors. (My heart breaks) It is happening in every facet of our culture, covers the demographics from top to bottom.
The story is clearly written on the faces of the escorts who volunteer to walk these people in the door. The story is clearly written on the faces of the people who pray and support the unborn life. Even the divide in this part of the story is one that is maddening
I am sitting in my chair last night talking with my Mother In-law (Dawn’s Mom) who was staying the night with us, and we are talking about what time we wake up. I jokingly said, “I can get you up at 4:25am when I get up.” “Why do you get up that earlier?” Without hesitation my daughter (10 Years old) pipes up “He reads his bible every morning.” In that instant I knew where the battle has to start to end this crisis. We are not guarding the hearts of the children that are born to us, and we are allowing them to fall to the forces of this world.
The face of this story is my 10 year old girl, and my 3 year old son. Right now they face a spiritual battle that can not be won without someone to hold back the forces. Without someone to bridge that will bridge the gap. God put men, through Christ, in place to stand that gap.
As I type I want to scream… Satan so does not want us to get to the root of the issue, because if we do he will know we are no longer sitting idle. He wants us to become apathetic to the cause of the issue, and not address it. He does not want us to put a face on the issue, and sure as heck doesn’t want the men involved. Then he can continue to play his game with the minds of the children here in the world. Satan wants us to ignore these faces. He knows that to affect the outcome he must affect the heart, and he uses the desires of the world to draw them in. We know that we can’t affect the heart, but we also know that through Christ in us, we can plant the truth for Christ to water. When Christ waters the truth with his blood, Satan is defeated.
Filed under: Leadership, Men, Prayer, Abortion, Christ, Faces, Faith
November 16, 2010 • 8:00 am 3
This post is my journaling from day one, and reflection about a week after. To read the introduction post click here: Prayer for Life Mission
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Reflection 1
I was not the only one who needed see the whole story so I put out the call…
This whole thing started with a request for men to be more involved. My mother in-law, who is the director of A Women’s Choice crisis pregnancy center, asked if I could get men to go downtown and pray for their new center that would be opening up next to the Abortion Clinic. I took it a step further and asked the men to step out on the street; I challenged them to “A Prayer for Life”.
Proverbs 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
As I look at the issues in our society, honestly, I feel men have allowed many of the problems with society to happen. That we have allowed ourselves to be marginalized to the point where women don’t believe they need us. And women have come to terms with the fact that men will just be apathetic to leadership.
God saw the apathy of men early, when after the apple was bit, He went looking for answers.
Gen 3:9 But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”
I asked the same question, and now I am looking for the answer.
As I began to organize men through e-mails, I challenged them with this:
What if men stood up? What if men said something? What if men decided to fight? What if men decided to fight the battle with prayer?
Eph 6:12 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.
Ask yourself this question. If men stood up, fought, and prayed against these forces, what issues would go away in this world? I could list many… and one involves the life of those without voice.
Journal Day 1
My thoughts are so disjointed right now…Bare with me as I get this out of my system.
“There is a better way” A statement by another man affected as deeply as I am right now…
The scale of change is directly proportional to the affect we have on the cause of the change. Want something to change? Figure out how to change the outcome by affecting the root cause not the issue at hand.
WHAT ARE WE DOING?
When is the best time to affect a choice?
Why are we just standing idle?
This is life and death, this is now… This is not something we can run from.
We talk about the choice all the time, we argue and bicker over whose choice is what choice. We get mad when someone doesn’t make the choice we would have made, and confront them on their choice. What causes anyone to be in the position to make the choice? What are we doing to affect and change the cause of them being in the position to make a choice?
When Jesus turned the tables in the temple he was angry because not one of his chosen people would stand up to the choice at hand. The Pharisees and the religious leaders were focused on the surface issues and they would not stand up to the spiritual forces that lead to the temple becoming a market of greed. Jesus was upset that the ones who should know better did not stand the gap to affect the issue before the money changers set up the tables…
This is a life or death choice. We sit idle as people make this choice everyday. Then we have the audacity to act wounded when they choose what we wouldn’t. Did we stand and fight for the truth? None of that matters my real question. Did we stand and show them love?
There are battles, that on the surface are being fought in the streets based on ideals and rights people think they understand. Heck I don’t even claim to understand. But few will take to the spiritual battle; few will stand a gap…
Jesus wants us to stand up and fight before the issue becomes a choice. Jesus wants us to plant the seed of life well before the choice has to be made. Jesus wants the ultimate choice of life to be Him and Him alone.
How do we affect a person’s choice? Love them like Jesus does.
Filed under: Christ, Men, Prayer, Abortion, Christ, Faith, God, Mission
Forget about trying to stop Planned Parent Hood, and start spreading the Love of Christ, so that others hearts are affected and changed by that love. So the love will change the heart of someone who may decide to follow Christ, and not to have an abortion or may stop preforming abortions.
I could careless about the money aspect, I want more people to know the Love of Christ.
As a follower of Christ our Role in God’s kingdom is to be the arms and legs of Christ’s love…