Timing is everything

You may have heard about the 23 week old baby born alive during an attempted abortion.  The Associated Press article was titled Fla. doctor investigated in badly botched abortion.

Yes, a “botched” abortion.  This is the only medical procedure I’m aware of where failure is defined by a human being coming out of it alive rather than dead.

If she would have stayed in the womb the baby could have been legally destroyed:

• that day
• the next week
• or the week after
• or the week after that
• or the week after that
• or the week after that
• or the week after that
• or the week after that
• or the week after that
• or the week after that
• or the week after that
• or the week after that
• or the week after that
• or the week after that
• or the week after that
• or the week after that
• or the week after that
• or the week after that.

All the way up to week 40 — at least according to the pro-partial birth abortion folks.

But since the abortion was “botched,” it was illegal to killer her at week 23 outside the womb. 

Maybe it should be illegal to kill her outside the womb and inside the womb.  Just sayin’.

Then there are these crocodile tears by a pro-abortionist:

Even those who support abortion rights are concerned about the allegations.

“It really disturbed me,” said Joanne Sterner, president of the Broward County chapter of the National Organization for Women, after reviewing the administrative complaint against Renelique. “I know that there are clinics out there like this. And I hope that we can keep (women) from going to these types of clinics.”

Yes, there are clinics just like that all over.  They kill innocent human beings for cash.  And pro-abortionists like Sterner encourage women to go “these type of clinics” all the time to “solve” their problems.  I’d love to know what follow up plans she has to keep women from going to clinics like that.  I’ll wait here patiently.

Then there’s this jewel of a comment by the doctor who just lost his license.

This [performing abortions] was not part of my goals when I came to Florida, but I had to do it to survive.”

Sure.  Too bad 50% of his patients didn’t survive. 

P.S. While he was a legislator in Illinois, President Obama fought hard to make what happened in Tampa legal in that state. Sick.

As always, remember that forgiveness and healing are possible for those who have participated in the abortion process.

Psalm 62

Greetings!

Psalm 62

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

¹ My soul finds rest in God alone;

my salvation comes from him.

² He alone is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Verses 1-2 were the theme of a Walk to Emmaus weekend that I worked a few years ago.  The weekend is a short course in Christianity to encourage and develop people to lead the church, but it is open to all believers. 

It is a great passage to memorize and recall.  We should make him our fortress and place of rest, and remember that salvation comes from him and not from anything that we do. 

³ How long will you assault a man?

Would all of you throw him down—

this leaning wall, this tottering fence?

⁴ They fully intend to topple him

from his lofty place; they take delight in lies.

With their mouths they bless,

but in their hearts they curse. Selah

⁵ Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;

my hope comes from him.

⁶ He alone is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

⁷ My salvation and my honor depend on God;

he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

⁸ Trust in him at all times, O people;

pour out your hearts to him,

for God is our refuge. Selah

Not only should we trust him, but we should pour out our hearts to him.  I never noticed that verse before.   We are not only invited but told to do that.

⁹ Lowborn men are but a breath,

the highborn are but a lie;

if weighed on a balance, they are nothing;

together they are only a breath.

¹⁰ Do not trust in extortion

or take pride in stolen goods;

though your riches increase,

do not set your heart on them.

There is nothing wrong with wealth, but much wrong in how we may pursue it or covet it.  We should not set our heart on it, but use it for God’s kingdom. 

¹¹ One thing God has spoken,

two things have I heard:

that you, O God, are strong,

¹² and that you, O Lord, are loving.

Surely you will reward each person

according to what he has done.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

God is strong and loving.  Unlike the myth of the “mean” Old Testament God, He is unchanging throughout eternity and the Bible.

Focusing on getting rich = bad idea

Consider this powerful passage about the dangers of worshiping money and focusing on getting rich.  Especially notice the terms in bold.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

That is a lot of warnings!  It isn’t bad to have money, but craving it and making it your god is a profoundly bad idea.

Here’s a better idea:

Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I don’t know exactly what it will look like when we find out what we’ve “stored up” in Heaven, but I know that Jesus isn’t a tricky bait-and-switch person.  That isn’t marketing spin on his part.  We will not be disappointed by what we devoted to the kingdom.

Psalm 61

Greetings!  This is a short Psalm.  One thing we can be confident of as believers is that God will hear our prayers.  The answer may be yes, no, or later, but He will hear them.  My prayer life is one of the areas of my spiritual walk in need of improvement.  I do try to praise him often, as verse 8 notes.

Is your prayer life all it should be?  I don’t ask that to burden you, but to challenge us all to take advantage of the rich blessing God has given us in letting us come to him any time we like.

Psalm 61

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David.

¹ Hear my cry, O God;

listen to my prayer.

² From the ends of the earth I call to you,

I call as my heart grows faint;

lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

³ For you have been my refuge,

a strong tower against the foe.

⁴ I long to dwell in your tent forever

and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah

⁵ For you have heard my vows, O God;

you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

⁶ Increase the days of the king’s life,

his years for many generations.

⁷ May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever;

appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.

⁸ Then will I ever sing praise to your name

and fulfill my vows day after day.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

The Proverbs 31 woman

This ending to Proverbs may surprise some people.  Take a close look at what this woman does.  Then go read Don’t Marry a Proverbs 31 Woman for an interesting take on it.

Proverbs 31 - The sayings of King Lemuel—an oracle his mother taught him:

² “O my son, O son of my womb,

O son of my vows,

³ do not spend your strength on women,

your vigor on those who ruin kings.

⁴ “It is not for kings, O Lemuel—

not for kings to drink wine,

not for rulers to crave beer,

⁵ lest they drink and forget what the law decrees,

and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

⁶ Give beer to those who are perishing,

wine to those who are in anguish;

⁷ let them drink and forget their poverty

and remember their misery no more.

⁸ “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,

for the rights of all who are destitute.

⁹ Speak up and judge fairly;

defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character ¹⁰

A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies.

¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her

and lacks nothing of value.

¹² She brings him good, not harm,

all the days of her life.

¹³ She selects wool and flax

and works with eager hands.

¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,

bringing her food from afar.

¹⁵ She gets up while it is still dark;

she provides food for her family

and portions for her servant girls.

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;

out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;

her arms are strong for her tasks.

¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,

and her lamp does not go out at night.

¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff

and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor

and extends her hands to the needy.

²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

²² She makes coverings for her bed;

she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,

where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,

and supplies the merchants with sashes.

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;

she can laugh at the days to come.

²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,

and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

²⁹ “Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all.”

³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

³¹ Give her the reward she has earned,

and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

 The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Roundup

The tax exempt cabinet– first Geithner, now Daschle.  The timeline is even more damning to their cases than I had been led to believe.

I can’t believe the media is letting them get away with this. Oh, wait, I can believe it.  I forgot their mantra: Elect and protect Obama.

Geithner and Daschle should have been laughed off the stage. Obama hasn’t been in office two weeks and we’ve seen one thing like this after another, and his supporters don’t seem to care.

At an absolute minimum this should lead to radical simplification of our tax code.  Even if Obama and his appointees were such blatant liars it would still point out that if these experts can’t do their taxes right then who can?

UPDATE: Great video link supplied by Bill showing Daschle’s “tough on tax cheats” attitude.

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Where are FEMA and Obama now?  Where is CNN? – comparing Katrina and the recent ice storm leaving 1,000,000 without power.

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James White debated Bart Ehrman, an expert textual critic who nonetheless draws rather odd conclusions about the Bible — namely that if we don’t have the original writings then the Bible can’t have been inspired by God.  Interestingly, if you keep Ehrman talking long enough he concedes all sorts of important points about orthodox views on the Bible.  Read the recap.  Sounds like White did a great job in pointing out Eherman’s errors.

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Some beautiful thoughts by Ms. Green on why she worships God.

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Smorgasbord theology, its problems and solutions — I’m speaking to a few dozen folks at church tonight about world religions, but the foundation will be how Jesus is the only way and how other religions do not lead to God. I’ll be sharing some key differences between Christianity and major cults and religions as well as how to navigate in conversations with others to share the Gospel accurately and productively.

This should be a “duh” viewpoint on my part but I know that some of these people have been duped by the “all religions lead to God” lie.

Please pray for me!

John 21

Greetings!

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

21     Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: ² Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ³ “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

⁴ Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸ The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. ⁹ When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

¹¹ Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴ This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

These are very specific descriptions of Jesus with a physical risen body.  Some people try to say Jesus was just raised spritually, but that is in direct conflict to the Bible.

Jesus Reinstates Peter

¹⁵ When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

¹⁶ Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Was Jesus being hard on Peter, or was He proving to him that despite his denials he was being restored?

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

²⁰ Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) ²¹ When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

²² Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” ²³ Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

V. 22 has a lesson we should all remember when we worry about the path of others.  Jesus said to Peter, ” . . . what is that to you?  You must follow me.”  That is our command: To follow him.

²⁴ This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

²⁵ Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Thus ends a magnificent work of literature, noting the claim that this is the truth and that Jesus did so many things that we couldn’t record them all.  I pray that people take the message of this book seriously and put their faith in Jesus.

Well, duh.

I have always found advice columns to be interesting.  I typically prefer Carolyn Hax to Dear “just to be on the safe side, you better get divorced” Abby.

Part of a recent letter was interesting.  The part in bold warranted the title of the post.

I’m in a relationship phase that always makes me feel nuts. It’s the space between “being together” and not. One aspect is that the fling started more on the physical end than the, “Wow, you have really good morals and we like the same Chinese restaurant” approach. The similar interests, humor and understanding our compatibility came second.

It’s been about a month and it’s understood that we’re exclusive, but I don’t know how to take those steps to feeling secure in what we have without leaving tampons and a toothbrush over there to nudge us in the direction I want to go. He’s generally not much of a question-asker about my life and history, and so our emotional intimacy is less than what I want, mostly because my last relationship ended horribly and I’m hesitant to really share myself until I know I’m in something for real.

Not to pigeonhole men, but I think, as a guy, he’s pretty content with hanging out, sleeping together, eating out, playing guitar and having fun without worrying whether I’m his “girlfriend.” Yet here I am, over-analyzing, feeling a little nuts, but not wanting to show that, lest he run for the hills. Help me out here.

So let’s see: You don’t really know the guy that well, but you are already sleeping with him and are looking for more commitment.  Let’s just say you have things completely backwards.

I wish the writer would read how women who have multiple sexual partners damage their ability to bond with a future partner due to low oxytocin levels.  I also wish they would teach this in schools as part of truly comprehensive sex education that includes the horrors of abortion, the (un)likelihood that guys will stick around after having sex with you, the fact that if you finish high school and don’t have sex outside of marriage that it is virtually impossible that you’ll be poor, etc.  (The Liberal version of “comprehensive” is basically passing out condoms with a wink-wink theme that says, “Don’t have sex until you’re ready (and you’re ready whenever you want to be ready)”.)