Down Syndrome Births Drop in U.S. as More Women Abort - ABC News

Down Syndrome Births Drop in U.S. as More Women Abort - ABC News







Good article, worth the read.

~B

Obama Reverses Bush Abortion-funds Policy

We're in a recession and we're PAYING for other countries to get financial help from the U.S. to get abortions. Hmm....

Remind me again........how is this helping OUR economy?

~B
----------------------

By MATTHEW LEE and LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writers Matthew Lee And Liz Sidoti, Associated Press Writers

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Friday struck down the Bush administration's ban on giving federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide abortion information — an inflammatory policy that has bounced in and out of law for the past quarter-century.

Obama's move, the latest in an aggressive first week reversing contentious Bush policies, was warmly welcomed by liberal groups and denounced by abortion rights foes.

The ban has been a political football between Democratic and Republican administrations since GOP President Ronald Reagan first adopted it 1984. Democrat Bill Clinton ended the ban in 1993, but Republican George W. Bush re-instituted it in 2001 as one of his first acts in office.

"For too long, international family planning assistance has been used as a political wedge issue, the subject of a back and forth debate that has served only to divide us," Obama said in a statement released by the White House. "I have no desire to continue this stale and fruitless debate."

He said the ban was unnecessarily broad and undermined family planning in developing countries.

"In the coming weeks, my administration will initiate a fresh conversation on family planning, working to find areas of common ground to best meet the needs of women and families at home and around the world," the president said.

Obama issued the presidential memorandum rescinding the Bush policy without coverage by the media, late Friday afternoon. The abortion measure is a highly emotional one for many people, and the quiet signing was in contrast to the televised coverage of Obama's announcement Wednesday on ethics rules and Thursday's signing of orders on closing the Guantanamo Bay prison camp and banning torture in the questioning of terror suspects.

His action came one day after the 36th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion.

The Bush policy had banned U.S. taxpayer money, usually in the form of Agency for International Development funds, from going to international family planning groups that either offer abortions or provide information, counseling or referrals about abortion as a family planning method.

Critics have long held that the rule unfairly discriminates against the world's poor by denying U.S. aid to groups that may be involved in abortion but also work on other aspects of reproductive health care and HIV/AIDS, leading to the closure of free and low-cost rural clinics.

Supporters of the ban say that the United States still provides millions of dollars in family planning assistance around the world and that the rule prevents anti-abortion taxpayers from backing something they believe is morally wrong.

The ban has been known as the "Mexico City policy" for the city a U.S. delegation first announced it at a U.N. International Conference on Population.

Both Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who will oversee foreign aid, had promised to do away with the rule during the presidential campaign.

Clinton said Friday evening that for seven years Bush's policy made it more difficult for women around the world to gain access to essential information and health care services. "Rather than limiting women's ability to receive reproductive health services, we should be supporting programs that help women and their partners make decisions to ensure their health and the health of their families," Clinton said.

In a related move, Obama also said he would restore funding to the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA). Both he and Clinton had pledged to reverse a Bush administration determination that assistance to the organization violated U.S. law known as the Kemp-Kasten amendment.

Obama, in his statement, said he looked forward to working with Congress to fulfill that promise: "By resuming funding to UNFPA, the U.S. will be joining 180 other donor nations working collaboratively to reduce poverty, improve the health of women and children, prevent HIV/AIDS and provide family planning assistance to women in 154 countries."

Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, executive director of the U.N. Population Fund, said: "The president's actions send a strong message about his leadership and his desire to support causes that will promote peace and dignity, equality for women and girls and economic development in the poorest regions of the world."

"We are confident that under the new president's direction, the U.S. will resume its leadership in promoting and protecting women's reproductive health and rights worldwide," Obaid said in a statement issued at U.N. headquarters in New York.

The Bush administration had barred U.S. money from the fund, contending that its work in China supported a Chinese family planning policy of coercive abortion and involuntary sterilization. UNFPA has vehemently denied that it does.

Congress had appropriated $40 million to the UNFPA in the past budget year, but the administration had withheld the money as it had done every year since 2002.

Organizations and lawmakers that had pressed Obama to rescind the Mexico City policy were jubilant.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the move "will help save lives (WHOSE LIVES?) and empower the poorest women and families to improve their quality of life and their future."

"Today's announcement is a very powerful signal to our neighbors around the world that the United States is once again back in the business of good public policy(since when is spending our tax payers money a "good public policy"?) and ideology no longer blunts our ability to save lives around the globe,"(WHAT?!?!) said Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Population Action International, an advocacy group, said that the policy had "severely impacted" women's health and that the step "will help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, abortions and women dying from high-risk pregnancies because they don't have access to family planning."

Anti-abortion groups and lawmakers condemned Obama's decision.

"I have long supported the Mexico City Policy and believe this administration's decision to be counter to our nation's interests," said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

"Coming just one day after the 36th anniversary of the tragic Roe v. Wade decision, this presidential directive forces taxpayers to subsidize abortions overseas — something no American should be required by government to do," said House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.

Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., called it "morally wrong to take the taxpayer dollars of millions of pro-life Americans to promote abortion around the world."

"President Obama not long ago told the American people that he would support policies to reduce abortions, but today he is effectively guaranteeing more abortions by funding groups that promote abortion as a method of population control," said Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee.

Mother Teresa's Wisdom

"The greatest destroyer of peace is abortion because if a mother can kill her own child,
what is left for me to kill you and you to kill me? There is nothing between."

— Mother Teresa

Beyond the Crisis

An important repost (2006) from my old blog:

Beyond the Crisis by Shana Schutte

Beyond the Crisis by Shana Schutte

“Turn off the light,” Heather Gemmen murmured. She thought her husband, Steve, had returned from an evening at church. When Heather peeked out from the covers, she saw a strange man standing in her bedroom! A nightmarish experience followed. Once alone, she phoned Steve.

“You have to come home! You have to come home!” she pleaded. It felt impossible to admit what just happened. Shame engulfed her as she spoke. “I’ve been raped!”

The Choice

Heather had been pro-life since she was a young girl, but now her theology collided with the painful reality of a crime. What should she do? Counseled by her friends, pastor, Bible study group and husband to take the morning-after pill, she visited a physician. But she felt compelled to do her own research before she followed through.

“[If I were already pregnant,] I found that the pill would stop the egg from implanting in the uterine wall, which I considered to be an abortion. But I couldn’t handle the thought of being pregnant, so I took it within 72 hours, the time frame allowed for the pill to be effective, even though I knew it was wrong.”

Heather missed her period once or twice, but she was advised not to worry. “It’s because of stress,” the doctor and friends told her. Then she took a pregnancy test.

God Had Another Plan

The drug didn’t work. Heather’s emotions were conflicted, and she was confused. On one hand, she felt relieved of the guilt of abortion, but she was devastated by the thought of carrying a rapist’s child. Questions, confusion and more shame followed.

“I didn’t know if my husband could deal with it,” Heather admitted. “Would he leave me? What would my family and friends say? I could logically evaluate my situation and knew I was innocent, but I didn’t feel innocent.”

Heather withdrew from nearly everyone in her life, stopped attending church and wanted to lash out at anyone who dared to quote Jeremiah 29:11. “I didn’t believe things would work out for my good — or that I had a future and a hope. I just believed the worst.”

A Wanted Child

A sign of hope emerged when Heather and Steve, still adamant against keeping the baby, phoned a couple they knew was good with children. Heather and Steve asked, “Could you parent this child?” The couple said yes, and they considered the offer an answer to prayer.

But later, Heather was confused by her feelings about adoption. She was grieved by the thought of losing the baby, and she then realized the truth. “I love this child, and I am her mother.” God opened Heather’s eyes, and her heart settled on keeping the baby. But what about Steve?

At the same time, Steve also began to embrace the idea of keeping the baby. Concerned church friends shared a story with him about a family who had a similar experience and was still able to love the rapist’s child. “It opened Steve’s eyes to what was possible,” Heather said. The Gemmens began to think, This is our baby.

God's Hands and Feet

Though not yet a full celebration of life, the Gemmens’ church, family and neighbors helped to usher in a greater joy. The community rallied around and did whatever they could to help.

“They brought us food, gave us a watchdog and had police check up on us,” Heather said.

For a time, Heather regretted telling anyone. “I felt my whole identity had changed. Heather the worship leader was now Heather, the one who had been raped.” She couldn’t bear seeing people who knew her story, so she hid at home embarrassed, isolated and alone.

“But they [the community] loved me anyway,” Heather said. Their care for my family was tangible, and they loved us so much that there wasn’t room in my heart for bitterness and shame. You can’t hold love and shame in your heart simultaneously.”

Just Love

As the months passed and Heather’s baby grew, so did her enthusiasm. Heather went shopping and bought clothes for herself as well as the necessary baby items. With the excitement of the preparation, love grew in the Gemmen home.

By the time baby Rachel arrived, the experience was no longer tainted by painful memories. “It was a beautiful moment of receiving a new life,” Heather said. The only emotion left was love.

Rachel is now a bubbly and energetic 9-year-old. She’s Daddy’s girl, and Steve is enthralled by her. There have been moments when he has looked at Heather and asked, “Can you imagine if we would have never had a daughter?”

After the work of love God did in Heather and Steve’s heart, they also adopted a young boy from their neighborhood — another testimony of the power of forgiveness. About her son, Heather says, “He is so loving. I know he is going to change the world.”

A New Picture of God

Much change has happened through Heather’s heartache, including her view of God. “The rape has changed my view,” Heather said. “I don’t see God as a jolly, old man in the sky any more.” Heather’s childlike picture of God has been replaced by a deeper truth that brings comfort — a God who is her Provider and Sustainer, a God who grieves when she experiences pain.

“God is compassionate yet big enough to handle any problem,” Heather said. “I’ve found I don’t need to minimize my pain. I don’t have to say ‘Oh, everything is fine’ when it’s not. Yes, there are a lot of tough things that happen in life, but God is good.”

Shana Schutte is an editor for Focus on the Family’s Internet Department.

Controversial Meme

The Controversies---Stolen from Laura

1. Do you have the guts to answer these questions and re-post as The Controversial Survey?

I do, although when I speak up about my thoughts on these things, LOTS of people get REALLY angry..... oh well..... :)

2. Would you do meth if it was legal?

No. Not even a thought.

3. Abortion: for or against it?

Very much against it. We are talking about human life here. If we kill the ones who cannot defend themselves~~(elderly, handicapped people and pre-borns and children), then who will stand up for them? Think of the Good Samaritan......

~Treat others as you would want them to treat you.

4. Do you think the world would fail with a female president?

No, I do not think that the world would fall apart with a female president. It might make us sit up and wake up a bit! (I can't get the font color to change!)

5. Do you believe in agree with the death penalty?

Yes, in most circumstances; In the Bible it talks of the government and of how the government are God's Agents of Wrath. The government is set up for the "dole-ing" out of what needs to be done to criminals.

Side thought: A lot of people say that the government has no right to "control" what a woman does with her body according to abortion, YET....we want the police and the courts to "control" the murderer?

Romans 13:4

4 For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

6. Do you wish marijuana would be legalized already?

Well, I used to think that it didn't matter because people are going to smoke it anyway, BUT now that I have children, do I really want my family and I walking down the street watching people get high? Hmmm.... I say not. Would we have "Pot Bars". We have to look at the bigger picture.

Plus, think of the health consequences....it EATS your brain up. I have had friends that are proof.

7. Are you for or against premarital sex?

I am against premarital sex. If we again look at the bigger picture here, we can see the dire consequences that come with having casual and premarital sex (the media doesn't talk about that much, does it, it isn't "pretty" enough). I also know that we reap what we sow.

If we become "one" with someone. And then we become "one" with the next one, well, pretty soon, we are all messed up. Plus, we aren't looking at what a gift married sex is. It's an incredible blessing!

8. Do you believe in God?

Yes, I do. But that doesn't mean that I can't relate to the people that don't.

9. Do you think same sex marriage should be legalized?

Biblical point of view: No. But I am NOT a hater. Why is it that since I believe this, people think that I hate people with other points of views?

10. Do you think it's wrong that so many Hispanics are illegally moving to the USA?

Illegally, YES. Why not just do it the LEGAL way, my Mom did.

11. A twelve year old girl has a baby, should she keep it?

So many of these questions are so juvenile...... let's see, if she has an awesome family, then I say yes, BUT if she doesn't, I say that ADOPTION is an incredible option.....

12. Should the alcohol age be lowered to eighteen?

Umm, let's see. In high school, they got drunk anyway. BUT, by keeping it illegal, maybe it keeps the streets safer?

13. Should the war in Iraq be called off?

I have no ability to answer this question. The media paints it all as horrible, yet we had to war with Hitler in order to save the holocaust victims.

I would have to talk to a majority of soldiers to answer this question correctly. I CANNOT have my mind judge what should be done by what the media says, that for sure!

14. Assisted suicide is illegal:

Sanctity of human life, man. We have to protect life. But if machines and wires is all that are keeping someone alive, then I would have to think about what would be what God would want.

15. Do you believe in spanking your children?

Yes, in certain circumstances. But you have to have a solid balance.

16. Would you burn an American flag for a million dollars?

Nope. It's just the principle of it all. A lot of soldiers lost their lives for this country. It shows only disrespect. Would you burn your family photo album?

17. Who do you think would make a better president? McCain or Obama?

Not Obama, that's for sure. But I can't say that I agree with our other presidential choice all that much.

Everyone is declaring how "holy" Obama is. Hey, listen up, NO man can "save" or "change" things much. He's just a man, not a dictator~~unless that's what people are hoping the "change" is.

Plus, how could I vote for a man that could possibly let a baby die after it had survived a botched abortion. I am a HUMAN. How can I overlook that fact? It makes him sound like a monster.

18. Are you afraid others will judge you from reading some of your answers?

No, everyone is an adult. They can handle it, just like I can handle their answers. :) I am American! I have these rights (fir the time being....). :O)

Letter to Whom it May Concern

Hi,

I recently saw the ad for the "South Dakota Healthy Families" about the Campbell family and their twins. What they had was "Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome", I know, because MY identical twins had this same thing. My husband and I chose to keep both babies in utero.

The doctors DID give us choices, abortion wasn't mentioned by word, they said that in order to save the one baby, we could c-section deliver the struggling baby and see how she did, and then see how the other baby would do. We both decided that delivering one baby and risking her life was not the answer, God had put them both in there, we decided that that's where they would stay.

Also, on another note, there are doctors out there that do the "twin to twin" surgeries in utero, which are successful, they are called: Laser Coagulation of the Communicating Placental Vessels. If you google it, it will show you different options.

The reason I am e-mailing is, because today we have two beautiful, incredible and wonderful 9 1/2 year old girls. Prayer is what got these girls here, and even though it doesn't work out for everyone like it did for us, there ARE options out there for people, BESIDES abortion. My girls are PROOF!! :)

Just to let you know!

~B
------------

How horrible that they only got to bring home one.....

Comic

Vote

Beyond the Crisis by Shana Schutte

Another important post from my previous blog: SgF
Beyond the Crisis by Shana Schutte

“Turn off the light,” Heather Gemmen murmured. She thought her husband, Steve, had returned from an evening at church. When Heather peeked out from the covers, she saw a strange man standing in her bedroom! A nightmarish experience followed. Once alone, she phoned Steve.

“You have to come home! You have to come home!” she pleaded. It felt impossible to admit what just happened. Shame engulfed her as she spoke. “I’ve been raped!”

The Choice

Heather had been pro-life since she was a young girl, but now her theology collided with the painful reality of a crime. What should she do? Counseled by her friends, pastor, Bible study group and husband to take the morning-after pill, she visited a physician. But she felt compelled to do her own research before she followed through.

“[If I were already pregnant,] I found that the pill would stop the egg from implanting in the uterine wall, which I considered to be an abortion. But I couldn’t handle the thought of being pregnant, so I took it within 72 hours, the time frame allowed for the pill to be effective, even though I knew it was wrong.”

Heather missed her period once or twice, but she was advised not to worry. “It’s because of stress,” the doctor and friends told her. Then she took a pregnancy test.

God Had Another Plan

The drug didn’t work. Heather’s emotions were conflicted, and she was confused. On one hand, she felt relieved of the guilt of abortion, but she was devastated by the thought of carrying a rapist’s child. Questions, confusion and more shame followed.

“I didn’t know if my husband could deal with it,” Heather admitted. “Would he leave me? What would my family and friends say? I could logically evaluate my situation and knew I was innocent, but I didn’t feel innocent.”

Heather withdrew from nearly everyone in her life, stopped attending church and wanted to lash out at anyone who dared to quote Jeremiah 29:11. “I didn’t believe things would work out for my good — or that I had a future and a hope. I just believed the worst.”

A Wanted Child

A sign of hope emerged when Heather and Steve, still adamant against keeping the baby, phoned a couple they knew was good with children. Heather and Steve asked, “Could you parent this child?” The couple said yes, and they considered the offer an answer to prayer.

But later, Heather was confused by her feelings about adoption. She was grieved by the thought of losing the baby, and she then realized the truth. “I love this child, and I am her mother.” God opened Heather’s eyes, and her heart settled on keeping the baby. But what about Steve?

At the same time, Steve also began to embrace the idea of keeping the baby. Concerned church friends shared a story with him about a family who had a similar experience and was still able to love the rapist’s child. “It opened Steve’s eyes to what was possible,” Heather said. The Gemmens began to think, This is our baby.

God's Hands and Feet

Though not yet a full celebration of life, the Gemmens’ church, family and neighbors helped to usher in a greater joy. The community rallied around and did whatever they could to help.

“They brought us food, gave us a watchdog and had police check up on us,” Heather said.

For a time, Heather regretted telling anyone. “I felt my whole identity had changed. Heather the worship leader was now Heather, the one who had been raped.” She couldn’t bear seeing people who knew her story, so she hid at home embarrassed, isolated and alone.

“But they [the community] loved me anyway,” Heather said. Their care for my family was tangible, and they loved us so much that there wasn’t room in my heart for bitterness and shame. You can’t hold love and shame in your heart simultaneously.”

Just Love

As the months passed and Heather’s baby grew, so did her enthusiasm. Heather went shopping and bought clothes for herself as well as the necessary baby items. With the excitement of the preparation, love grew in the Gemmen home.

By the time baby Rachel arrived, the experience was no longer tainted by painful memories. “It was a beautiful moment of receiving a new life,” Heather said. The only emotion left was love.

Rachel is now a bubbly and energetic 9-year-old. She’s Daddy’s girl, and Steve is enthralled by her. There have been moments when he has looked at Heather and asked, “Can you imagine if we would have never had a daughter?”

After the work of love God did in Heather and Steve’s heart, they also adopted a young boy from their neighborhood — another testimony of the power of forgiveness. About her son, Heather says, “He is so loving. I know he is going to change the world.”

A New Picture of God

Much change has happened through Heather’s heartache, including her view of God. “The rape has changed my view,” Heather said. “I don’t see God as a jolly, old man in the sky any more.” Heather’s childlike picture of God has been replaced by a deeper truth that brings comfort — a God who is her Provider and Sustainer, a God who grieves when she experiences pain.

“God is compassionate yet big enough to handle any problem,” Heather said. “I’ve found I don’t need to minimize my pain. I don’t have to say ‘Oh, everything is fine’ when it’s not. Yes, there are a lot of tough things that happen in life, but God is good.”

Shana Schutte is an editor for Focus on the Family’s Internet Department.

Protecting the Helpless

This is a re-post (5-29-06) from my old blog(SgF).

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:14-16

Abortion: that terrible occurence that people excuse away as being a right. Yet, we don't have the "right" to murder someone out on the street~ I scream, "INJUSTICE"! How can the state control stealing and murder, but we are prudes if we demand rights for babies, elderly and the handicapped.

"There is a way that seems right to man, it is the way of death."
Proverbs 16:25

Yesterday, while at my in-laws house, I got into an unexpected discussion with my husband's grandpa, his grandpa~ so wise, quiet and loving. I was talking with him about how disposable our society is, how in the town that I grew up in, recently tore down a HUGE K-Mart that was only about 10 years old, NEW by most standards. The building was immaculate. The only fault~ it's ceilings weren't high enough for the Lowe's building that was to be built. No, Lowe's couldn't build around it OR let companies have the "old" materials for free, instead, they demolished it.

We talked of other things; how older folks are just as disposable as these "old" buildings being torn down, how people should recognize how valuable and ingenius these aged people are. A treasure trove of informationn, a wealth of knowledge. We talked of disposable lives. I spoke of how we are getting rid of unwanted children, unwanted elderly and unwanted handicapped humans.

"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordoained thee a prophet unto the nations." Jeremiah 1:5

This is where the discussion shifted. He on the side of the woman with an unwanted pregnancy, I on the side of the helpless.

As we sat and talked, I hurt. I ached for him to see that a child is helpless, broken and easily killed.

We talked of rape and incest, I told him that I wasn't knowledgable enough to give my thoughts on it yet, but I still held strong on my beliefs about abortion. Deny this not, it stops a heartbeat. He didn't argue.

"Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." Isaiah 49:15

He spoke of young women getting pregnant~ "Why does she have to have the burden of carrying that child that she doesn't want?" I argued gently the point that s*ex in most cultures is to be in the confines of marriage, marriage usually equals family. Every time a couple lays together, the potential of procreating is, of course, there. Why do animals have s*ex? Why do humans have s*ex? We know the similarities and differences between the two.

In this world we have begun to believe that demolishing new "buildings" is acceptable. We believe that it's hardly noticable for a child to have divorced parents. We believe that old age is a burden, that health needs to be perfect to be happy, that we shouldn't suffer consequences.

A culture with no consequences, perfect people living perfect lives. No child to burden us, no elderly parents, no handicapped siblings~ eliminate them all when we are moved to do so~ so that we can have our own little Auschwitz.

How very, very sad.

"For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. They will reject the truth and follow strange myths." 2nd Timothy 4:3-4

Adoption, it has touched many people in my life, in both aspects: adopting a child and giving up a child for adoption. Very positive examples of how we can avoid a life destroying abortion and give life to someone else.

~B

Questions and Answers

I suppose you may be curious as to why I am always posting about abortion. Well, the reason being is that I live in the state of South Dakota and right now there is battle going on for the election. There are two sides to this issue: those that are pro-life and those that are pro-choice.

I am pro-lfe and even though I am pro-life, my husband and I have debated over the rape/incest issue over the past few months. I have been trying to gain an understanding as to why these hurt women that have been raped should have to go on carrying the rapists child. He put it very clearly and it has really stayed with me, this is what he said: "When man and woman come together, whether or not they are supposed to, and a baby is created, it is not the humans creating that life, it is and can only be God."

I have thought and thought and thought about that. But what if I was the one that was raped? Would I stand on the same thoughts? Yes, I would, if my husband was at my side. But if I didn't have his thoughts about human life then maybe I wouldn't understand the complexities of it. Like me, without my husbands words on it, those people won't yet understand how SACRED life is inside their body.

We stand up for unborn dolphins, unborn horses and unborn owls. If I walked up to a nest and dumped it out, my heart would naturally have a tug in it for the shame of eliminating those animals AND there would be quite a few PETA people after me (and I hope so). But when it comes to a human life, do people understand how much more valuable we are than an animal? We stand up for animals almost more readily than we do for a human.

I want to write a letter to the editor. But I don't want to sound like a fanatic. I know that this isn't an issue that can be fought just on my feet alone, it has to be done on my knees.

People need to know how sacred we all are.

So, please, if you are from South Dakota, please pray that people's hearts would be softened to the fact that someone has to fight for these helpless humans. If you aren't from South Dakota, please ask your churches and families and friends to pray for our state. And please pray for the women out there that are so hurting because of rape and incest.

Oh Lord, we all need your help.

~B

Our Brave New World

Abortion/Adoption

This is from my previous blog. I wanted to repost it.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:14-16

Abortion: that terrible occurence that people excuse away as being a right. Yet, we don't have the "right" to murder someone out on the street~ I scream, "INJUSTICE"! How can the state control stealing and murder, but we are prudes if we demand rights for babies, elderly and the handicapped.

"There is a way that seems right to man, it is the way of death." Proverbs 16:25

Yesterday, while at my in-laws house, I got into an unexpected discussion with my husband's grandpa, his grandpa~ so wise, quiet and loving. I was talking with him about how disposable our society is, how in the town that I grew up in, recently tore down a HUGE K-Mart that was only about 10 years old, NEW by most standards. The building was immaculate. The only fault~ it's ceilings weren't high enough for the Lowe's building that was to be built. No, Lowe's couldn't build around it OR let companies have the "old" materials for free, instead, they demolished it.

We talked of other things; how older folks are just as disposable as these "old" buildings being torn down, how people should recognize how valuable and ingenius these aged people are. A treasure trove of informationn, a wealth of knowledge. We talked of disposable lives. I spoke of how we are getting rid of unwanted children, unwanted elderly and unwanted handicapped humans.

"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordoained thee a prophet unto the nations." Jeremiah 1:5
----------------
My youngest at 13 weeks.
---------------

This is where the discussion shifted. He on the side of the woman with an unwanted pregnancy, I on the side of the helpless.

As we sat and talked, I hurt. I ached for him to see that a child is helpless, broken and easily killed.

We talked of rape and incest, I told him that I wasn't knowledgable enough to give my thoughts on it yet, but I still held strong on my beliefs about abortion. Deny this not, it stops a heartbeat. He didn't argue.

"Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." Isaiah 49:15

He spoke of young women getting pregnant~ "Why does she have to have the burden of carrying that child that she doesn't want?" I argued gently the point that s*ex in most cultures is to be in the confines of marriage, marriage usually equals family. Every time a couple lays together, the potential of procreating is, of course, there. Why do animals have s*ex? Why do humans have s*ex? We know the similarities and differences between the two.

In this world we have begun to believe that demolishing new "buildings" is acceptable. We believe that it's hardly noticable for a child to have divorced parents. We believe that old age is a burden, that health needs to be perfect to be happy, that we shouldn't suffer consequences.

A culture with no consequences, perfect people living perfect lives. No child to burden us, no elderly parents, no handicapped siblings~ eliminate them all when we are moved to do so~ so that we can have our own little Auschwitz.

How very, very sad.

"For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. They will reject the truth and follow strange myths." 2nd Timothy 4:3-4
Adoption, it has touched many people in my life, in both aspects: adopting a child and giving up a child for adoption. Very positive examples of how we can avoid a life destroying abortion and give life to someone else.

~B

(Itty Bitty Baby Sculptures by Vancouver Artist Camille Allen)