Jul 15 2008

costs

Unborn child

This is quite a sobering and sad testimony from the UK about women who undergo multiple abortions for the purpose of contraception.

According to a government statistics cited by the article, the number of women seeking more than one abortion is climbing. Approximately 1,300 women in the UK had their fifth abortion last year.

This, on top of another recent report from the UK’s Royal College of Psychiatrists, warning about the increased possibility of mental illness associated with abortion.

Is there any reason to believe this is much different in America?

Numerous faith-based ministries and pregnancy resource centers work to counsel women who feel trapped in their situations, and consider abortion to be the only way out. While there will always be folks who give the entire pro-life movement a bad rap (and they always somehow seem to be easy finds for the media), they are the minority compared to the folks quietly doing the blessed work of counseling women and providing help.

And there are encouraging stories out there as well, such as this one about a mother who’s delighted her child survived an attempted abortion.

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” -Psalm 139:13


Jun 10 2008

the paper of record, the living of faith

The New York Times published an article in its June 1, 2008 edition titled “Taking Their Faith, But Not Their Politics, To The People”  It’s a notable piece that highlights a church in the St. Louis area that is an example of what seems to be a larger trend: some of the younger generation of evangelical American Christians are desiring to re-focus what being ‘evangelical’ means. Read more »


Feb 14 2008

stretching it out

“So teach us to number our days?, that we may get a heart of wisdom.” –Psalm 90:12

This is going to be a little scattered.  Bear with me.  These thoughts are still sifting out in my brain.  

American evangelist Billy Graham gave a fascinating interview to Newsweek in August 2006 about a myriad of personal topics, but a lot of it was reflection on growing older.  In particular, he said, “I have a certainty about eternity that is a wonderful thing, and I thank God for giving me that certainty. I do not fear death. I may fear a little bit about the process, but not death itself, because I think the moment that my spirit leaves this body, I will be in the presence of the Lord.”

I found it interesting that he was more at ease with death than with the dying process.  While many haven’t articulated it like he has, I bet that resonates with a lot of people. 

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Written by Jim | Posted under Afterlife, Aging, Death, Jesus, Suffering, community | 2 Comments »
Jan 29 2008

the allure of separation

It’d be nice to get away and stay away, wouldn’t it?

Definitely.  That really sounds sweet right now.  Some distance.  Getting away. Running away. Why not?

Since the inception of the Christian church, movements within Christianity have advocated, at one time or another, a separation from society as a standing way of life.  The corruption is rampant, they’ve basically said, and we must cut ourselves off to save ourselves, our children, our faith.

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