August 19, 2013

Abortion

Duck Dynasty Stars Use Their Fame to Oppose Abortion, Promote Adoption, Abstinence by Christina Martin

A Tone-deaf and Tin-Eared “abortion access activist” by Dave Andrusko

Abortion Clinic Offering $50 Off Sunday Abortions Now Offers $100 Off by Steven Ertelt

The Painting That Saved a Baby’s Life From Abortion by Jill Stanek

Adoption and Orphan Care

Bethany is in a race against the clock – “For one ministry, the clock is ticking right now. President and CEO of Bethany Christian Services, Bill Blacquire, says they only have six months to find parents for special needs children in China.”

It’s easier not to know – “Today I wish I was one of those people, you all know the ones, the ones who ignore your adoption fundraisers and your posts about the entire Orphan Crisis. The ones who ignore it because it’s too hard to face, because if they only knew then they would have to do something.”

Worldview and Culture

Spiritual Warfare in the Pauline Epistles by Fr. James Parnell – Some food for thought from an Orthodox writer.

Devotional Thoughts

No Offense by Rev. Ken Klaus
(Source: www.lhm.org/dailydevotions)

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:17).

Most of our Daily Devotion readers will understand when I say there are times when I wanted to be somebody else, and there have also been times when I was incredibly thankful I wasn’t. 

Right now I’m glad I’m not the person in the New York City school system who is trying to make sure none of the students are ever offended when they take a standardized test. That individual, or group of people, have worked long and hard to guarantee that everybody is happy and content. This they have done by coming up with a list of offensive words which should not appear on a test.

Among those words are

  • “dinosaur” — because you don’t want to offend the evolutionists;

  • “Halloween” — because you don’t want to upset those who don’t like witchcraft;

  • “birthday” — students who are members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t do birthdays;

  • “dancing” — (with the exception of ballet), because, well, I just don’t know why clogging and tap wouldn’t be allowed.

Now those are just a few of the words which are to be avoided. There are also entire subjects which are forbidden. Test-writers should not speak of divorce or disease, or wealth or poverty. The powers which be are of the opinion these topics can be offensive or make an individual feel less than adequate.

As far as I can tell, the Lord has no such problem when it comes to dealing with us. For example:

  • When it comes to the subject of sin, He says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

  • When it comes to being loved by God, Scripture says, “God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son …. شرح لعبة بينجو ” (John 3:16a).

  • When the Bible speaks about who of us God wants in heaven, the Bible tells us God “would have all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4).

  • Indeed, as far as the Lord is concerned, there is no Jew or Greek, there is no slave or free, there is no man or woman (see Galatians 3:28).

  • Most importantly, when it comes to getting into heaven, Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and nobody is passing through the pearly gates except He brings them through (see John 14:6).

You see, my friends, when our gracious and merciful Lord loves He loves all of us, and when He wants to save somebody, everybody is included. And since New York City can’t put that kind of “offensive” information on a test …

I guess you and I are just going to be the ones to tell, well, to tell everybody.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, use me to tell the world about the work of the Savior whose life, death and resurrection show just how all-encompassing Your love is. In His Name. Amen.

**********

Does God hate gay people? by Pastor Mark Jeske
(www.timeofgrace.org)

Perhaps you have seen pictures or video clips of the protesters. They travel all over America from their small Kansas church, and though they picket many different places and occasions, they seem to favor military funerals. Their placards shout that God hates gays.

Nobody’s personal opinion on human sexuality needs to mean a hill of beans to you, including mine. But God’s does. The Creator of people, of gender, and of marriage itself reserves to himself the right to define the purpose and parameters of sexuality. Romans 1 (have you ever read it?) leaves no doubt about God’s intent for marriage and sexuality as being limited to one man and one woman, committed to each other for a lifetime.

But it is a terrible mistake to identify one sin as somehow greater or more grievous than all the others. God condemns heterosexual sin as well. In fact, 1 Corinthians 6 lists a whole range of rebellious human behavior that brings God’s judgment. “That is what some of you were … Flee from sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:11,18).

The glorious gospel reveals to us that in mercy Christ died and rose again to bring forgiveness for all sins to the world. Those who believe it, have it. They also have God’s promises and God’s commands and God’s power to make changes in their lives.

**********

Familiar Expressions by Rev. Ken Klaus
(Source: www.lhm.org/dailydevotions)

(Jesus said) “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

One of the great things about familiar expressions is that they are so … familiar.

One fourth-grade teacher in my acquaintance wanted to see what her children would come up with when they were given familiar expressions with which they weren’t familiar. From their perspective the answers given were quite logical.

From my point of view those answers made me smile.

This is how it works: as an adult you know it is “better to be safe than sorry.” But one of her students, when given that expression finished, “Better to be safe than to punch a fifth-grader.” Different perspective, but equally true. قمار اون لاين

Here are some of the other familiar expressions the students fractured. She said,

  • “A miss is as good as a … mister.”

  • “You can’t teach an old dog … new math.”

  • “Where there’s smoke there’s … pollution.”

  • “A penny saved is … not much.”

  • “Two’s company, three’s … the Musketeers.

As a pastor, I had much the same thing happen to me. العاب للربح الحقيقي During my children’s sermons I would ask, “What did Jesus do for you?” The reply always was, “Jesus died for me.” As you know, that answer is correct, and we ought to give thanks our children know the love of the Redeemer, who died to win our forgiveness and salvation.

Still, there are times I think we ought to teach them more. Jesus’ death took approximately six hours. In contrast He spent 33 years fulfilling the Old Testament prophesies, so we would know He is the promised Messiah. His entire life was spent fulfilling all of God’s laws: the laws our sins have broken. He spent every day resisting Satan’s temptations. He spent all His life doing all that was necessary so we could be saved.

This is why, next time I ask a little one, or their parents, “What did Jesus do for you?” I hope the answer is “He lived for me. He died for me, and He rose so I might be forgiven and become one of God’s saved children.”

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, let me value all the sacrifices made by the Savior as He lived, died and rose for me. May those words never be reduced to an expression, but may they be the power of God in my life which saves. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.