Abortion
The Culture of Death and Our Towering Self-Regard by David French
11 Inspiring Signs From the March for Life by Kelsey Harris
Can we live an “ordinary life” amidst the abortion slaughter? by Jonathan Van Maren
The War Against Children by Susan Stamper Brown
A Culture of Life by Patrick J. Deneen
Adoption
Ten Things NOT to Say to Adoptive Parents
End-of-Life
Medicine Does Not Know What “Dead” Is – “Why doctors should not have the last word on life and death.” – An interview with Duke physician Raymond Barfield by Andy Crouch
Family Living
The Blessing of a Life Too Brief by Bradley Mattes
Bored? Don’t worry, it might be the start of something brilliant by Ian H. Richardson – “Boredom has a purpose – it signals that you are searching for new goals.”
Fewer siblings changes personality by Shannon Roberts
Worldview and Culture
The Surprising “Gimme Shelter” by Anne Morse – “Ron Krauss talks about his powerful pro-life film.”
Biggest football game of the year has a dark underbelly by Ruth Kramer
This and That
Religious Statues Vandalized At 2 Churches In Vineland, New Jersey
Cheer Up, John 3:16: The World’s Top 10 Bible Verse Searches of 2013 by Kate Tracy – “On Bible Gateway’s list, drawn from 242 countries and territories, only one verse matches YouVersion’s list of top verses shared.”
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Do Not Be Afraid
by Cara Jane Brister
(Source: www.buckner.org)
I recently led a Buckner mission trip to San Pedro Sula, Honduras with a church team from Pittsburgh, Penn. We had an incredible week of ministering to the beautiful children there through songs, crafts, Bible stories, construction work and lots and lots of hugs and smiles.
One of the songs we sang every day with the children revolved around this phrase: “No nunca tengo miedo; Jesus es super fuerte!” (Now sing — or yell — that phrase while jumping around, dancing, doing arm motions, and you’ll get the idea.) The phrase translates to: “I never fear; Jesus is super strong!”
As followers of Jesus, we are not only called to live lives absent of fear, we are given the means by which to live that life. Did you know phrases like “do not fear,” “do not be afraid,” and “fear not” appear in the Bible literally hundreds of times? And many times, it looks something like this:
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“Do not be afraid or terrified … for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)
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“Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
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“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
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“But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.'” (Matthew 14:27)
The presence of God means the absence of fear. We are not called to muster up faith and trust on our own. His presence gives us courage; His strength helps and upholds us. Jesus is Emmanuel — God with us — and because of His presence, we don’t have to be afraid. “No nunca tengo miedo; Jesus es super fuerte!”
Cara Jane Brister is the Be A Family program coordinator for Buckner Children and Family Services.