Yesterday, the Senate confirmed President Obama’s very pro-choice nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius. Along with the expected Democratic vote there were several Republicans who voted for confirmation:
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Collins (R-ME)
Gregg (R-NH)
Lugar (R-IN)
Roberts (R-KS)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Some of these do not surprise me – they are not social conservatives and never have been. Personally, however, I am highly disappointed in Senator Sam Brownback. I am pretty sure I know why he voted this way, but I’m still disappointed. He was one Senator I had a modicum of respect for as being truly principled.
The sad thing is what his vote does. It goes beyond confirming Sebelius – she would have won without his vote – it is the destruction of confidence.
What does this say about his record as pro-life? Convenience or principle? And what about future votes? What is he willing to sacrifice on the altar of expediency?
His sacrifice of principle for politics also casts a shadow over the Senators that did vote against this confirmation. Did they vote this way because they are sincerely against abortion or because it is politically expedient? I applaud their vote and want to give them the benefit of the doubt, but it becomes more and more difficult.
It is time for our elected officials to do more than pay lip-service in the fight against the evil of abortion. Until they do, their conservative constituents would do well to stop sending them back to Washington. Until they do, they might want to shelve any aspirations for President.
“I beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:1-3
Unity! It is essential to the life of any church. Our fellowship has been greatly blessed with an unusual spirit of love and unity. Despite all sorts of differences, we have put aside pettiness, criticism, and conflict for the cause of Christ.
Yet Paul reminds us that we must “endeavor to keep” this unity. It is like the vegetable gardens many of us will soon be planting. It takes much work and constant vigilance to keep the weeds out. The weeds of conflict grow from the seeds of selfishness.
How can you “de-weed” your garden? You can:
1. Focus on the good in others.
2. Refuse to speak evil of another person.
3. Keep your love relationship with Jesus right.
4. Realize that the world doesn’t revolve around you.
5. Take the opportunity to serve someone else.
How many Ben Franklins does it take to make a trillion dollars? Click the bill and scroll down.
And if that’s not depressing enough, click here to see the national debt.
From a sermon by Dr. Katherine Ragsdale, recently appointed as the sixth and newest president of Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, MA (Emphasis mine):
“When a woman wants a child but can’t afford one because she hasn’t the education necessary for a sustainable job, or access to health care, or day care, or adequate food, it is the abysmal priorities of our nation, the lack of social supports, the absence of justice that are the tragedies; the abortion is a blessing.
“And when a woman becomes pregnant within a loving, supportive, respectful relationship; has every option open to her; decides she does not wish to bear a child; and has access to a safe, affordable abortion – there is not a tragedy in sight — only blessing. The ability to enjoy God’s good gift of sexuality without compromising one’s education, life’s work, or ability to put to use God’s gifts and call is simply blessing.
“These are the two things I want you, please, to remember – abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Let me hear you say it: abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done.”
This opinion piece from US News & World Report argues that “in a recession, abortions are not a bad choice.”
Abortions a blessing? Sound fiscal decisions? Does this shock us?
It shouldn’t. Consider the arguments used for slavery prior to the Civil War:
The Governor of South Carolina declared, “Slavery is not a national evil; on the contrary it is a national benefit.” He went on to say that slavery “has exalted the white race itself to higher hopes and purposes, and it is perhaps of the most sacred obligation that we should give it the means of expansion.” Pastors preached sermons in its defense. Extremists called for the reinstatement of the slave trade. No longer just a right, or a necessity, slavery had become a moral obligation that had blessed the South and the slave. It must be defended at all cost.
Slavery was firmly established on economic self-interest. From the traders who first brought the slaves to the New World to the slave-owners themselves, “American slavery was prompted not by racism but by the pursuit of profit.”
Throughout the decades of slavery, the pro-slavery forces argued that the South must have slavery in order to survive economically. Eventually, the economic argument became a cornerstone of its defense. As the defense progressed from “right” to “blessing,” so too did this line of reasoning.
The “abortion is a blessing” rhetoric is not new, but I expect it to intensify. The battle against abortion is far from over. In fact, it may have just begun to escalate.
*UPDATE: Rev. Ragsdale has removed the sermon from her personal site, but it can be read in its entirety here. A certain faux-conservative news-anchor that blasted a pro-life advocate for suggesting that ANYONE was pro-abortion can . . . well, you know.
HT for pic: Medical Pastiche
One of these days, when things slow down, I will actually post something of substance. Until then (not for at least another week and a half) I will continue to share my meager gleanings.
Wednesday Prayer is a sporadic tradition on this blog, so for your Wednesday edification I encourage you to watch the following video from Igniter Media with tips for prayer. You WILL be edified.
Killer Prayer Tips with Johnny and Chachi.
Now, go forth and pray without ceasing.
For those who disapprove of finding humor in church life or religious routine, here are some “serious” prayer posts: Prayer Posts.
HT – Denny Burk
We’re way out from town. Things get here a little slower than other places, so I’m thankful for people who help us catch up with current trends.
The big thing right now is “Postmodernism.” Everybody seems to either hate them or want to be one. I’m still not sure exactly what one is (apparently neither do they or anyone else), but now thanks to Jeff MCQ, I know how to be one.
Thanks, Jeff.
In 1984 twenty-two year old college student Jennifer Thompson identified Ron Cotton as her rapist. On her testimony, he was convicted and sentenced to fifty years in prison. While in prison, he found that another inmate, Bobby Poole, had confessed to a cell-mate that HE had committed the crime.
Cotton won a new trial, but was convicted again, this time for two life sentences. Finally, after eleven years, DNA evidence provided the proof he needed. He was found innocent and Poole guilty.
When Thompson heard the news, she was overcome with guilt and asked to meet with Cotton. She describes the scene as she entered the church where they had agreed to meet:
“I started to cry immediately. And I looked at him, and I said, ‘Ron, if I spent every second of every minute of every hour for the rest of my life telling you how sorry I am, it wouldn’t come close to how my heart feels. I’m so sorry.’ And Ronald just leaned down, he took my hands…and he looked at me, he said, ‘I forgive you,’” Thompson remembered.
“I told her, I said, ‘Jennifer, I forgive you. I don’t want you to look over your shoulder. I just want us to be happy and move on in life,’” Cotton recalled.
Thompson further describes the healing of mercy . . .
“The minute he forgave me, it’s like my heart physically started to heal. And I thought, ‘This is what grace and mercy is all about. This is what they teach you in church that none of us ever get.’ And here was this man that I had hated. I mean, I used to pray every day of my life during those eleven years that he would die. That he would be raped in prison and someone would kill him in prison. That was my prayer to God. And here was this man who with grace and mercy just forgave me,” Thompson told Stahl. “How wrong I was, and how good he is.”
I know this story. You and I are the characters. Sound familiar? A wrongfully-accused man suffers unjustly because of us, and instead of revenge, justice, and retaliation, he offers us grace, mercy, and forgiveness. He gives us what we don’t deserve, we don’t expect, and wouldn’t give if we were in His place.
How good He is, and how wrong we are.
(Read the entire story at CBSnews)
How God Sees My Sin!
(Isaiah 1:18)
This past Christmas, my dearly beloved brother and sister-in-law gave me a “demotivational” calender from Despair.com. Each month I get some great “encouragement” from it. Here’s the gem for March:
