Culture

The Eugenics of Down Syndrome

Iceland Downs Syndrome

“My God, oh my God, my Father, Savior, my Holy Spirit, forgive them.” This is not causing Down Syndrome to disappear, it’s eugenics.

While the story line is about Iceland, look further in the article for this paragraph, “Other countries aren’t lagging too far behind in Down syndrome termination rates. According to the most recent data available, the United States has an estimated termination rate for Down syndrome of 67 percent (1995-2011); in France it’s 77 percent (2015); and Denmark, 98 percent (2015). The law in Iceland permits abortion after 16 weeks if the fetus has a deformity — and Down syndrome is included in this category.”

Please, please, where are the social justice warriors now. Stop leaning left or right. Stop buying your party lines. See and receive the heart of Jesus. Save the children…

…all the children.

You can see this dreadful reality at…

CBS News

Youtube

 

 

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Adversity, Bible

A Great Reminder About a Great Man Who Needed a Savior

You won’t be disappointed in an article by Randy Alcorn at Eternal Perspectives Ministry: Charles Spurgeon’s Joy and Fruitfulness in Ministry, Born Out of Suffering and Sorrow. (see link below)

The life of C. H. Spurgeon is both inspirational and sobering. He knew something about adversity…if you want to thrive you need the Lord. I have long appreciated this quote from him: “No stars gleam as brightly as those which glisten in the polar sky. No water tastes so sweet as that which springs amid the desert sand. And no faith is so precious as that which lives and triumphs through adversity. Tested faith brings experience. You would never have believed your own weakness had you not needed to pass through trials. And you would never have known God’s strength had His strength not been needed to carry you through.”

Just follow the link…

http://www.epm.org/blog/2017/May/22/spurgeon-ministry-suffering

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Bible, Culture

Maybe We Just Say No

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Quoted from a Fox news source:

“Earlier, Trump called the judge who issued the temporary restraining order a ‘so-called judge’ and vowed that the order would be ‘overturned!’

Trump’s tweet about Robart also resulted in criticism from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

‘The president’s attack … shows a disdain for an independent judiciary that doesn’t always bend to his wishes and a continued lack of respect for the Constitution,’ the New York Democrat said.”

This is a perfect example of what we’ve become. A President with poor public manors and a Senator who seems to manufacture Constitutional notions from thin air…as if he and his side have not also wreaked havoc with the separation of powers regarding the three branches of our government. We really must once again become an informed and modest citizenry. We need to read and study the founding documents in their historical and grammatical contexts. We must do our own fact checking: where possible, find and read original sources; discredit so-called news agencies; refuse to take up the offenses of others without first knowing true truth; and, perhaps above all, refuse to pass on anything for which we would not be absolutely willing to die to defend. Finally, until such time the right, the left, the libertarians, the greens, and all the rest (whether politicos, pundits, or pedagogues) cease their propagandistic ways and return to honorable and honest exchanges of ideas and ideals, we should stand shoulder to shoulder demanding our public institutions and public servants stand down…and until they do we should ignore them.

Maybe what we really need is a “Just Say No” campaign against bureaucracy.

  • Turn off the television.
  • Turn off all links from any and all bureaucracies posting anything at all on the internet.
  • Tell the permit profiteers they are no longer allowed to have their way with our property, our hopes, our dreams, and our futures.
  • Stop paying taxes.

I don’t know…maybe you can think of a few more…

Then how about we step out our front doors, start talking to our neighbors, and better than talking, start listening to our neighbors? How about we take the lead and make the insiders follow? Maybe it will help to detoxify ourselves from the clap-trap that passes as news and public discourse these days. Maybe it will strengthen our resolve to not be led into their histrionics.

Finally, on a personal note to my brothers and sisters in Christ, how about we remember…

…our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:21)?

…blessed is the (one whose) delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither (Psalm 1:1-3)?

…let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person (Colossians 4:6)?

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Bible

The Greatest Gift Of All

crimas-eve-2016

“In all of my years of service to my Lord, I have discovered a truth that has never failed and has never been compromised. That truth is that it is beyond the realm of possibilities that one has the ability to out give God.”  ~~Charles Spurgeon

During the Christmas season our thoughts turn to gifts. We like to give them. We like to get them. There’s the wrapping. There’s the bows. There’s all that business about hiding them until Christmas morning…especially from the littles.

During the Christmas season, if we’re fortunate, someone will remind us that the best gifts come not from the K-Marche or Bon Mart, but from the heart. If we’re blessed, others will remind us about love and kindness, and hope, and peace…and God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

During the Christmas season, hopefully, everything will slow down enough for each of us to catch our breath…both literally and figuratively. Yes, we’ll be encouraged with the familiar warning, “Tis better to give than to receive.” Hopefully this little warning may reduce our stress load over what lies under the tree for “little ‘ol me.” And yes, we’ll be exhorted to remember the less fortunate as we gather around tables heavy with calorie laden plates. Hopefully such a warning may reduce our stress by enticing us to give to strangers one of those beautiful blessings that just might light their hearts and bring smiles to their lips.

During the Christmas season, if things really go right, we’ll be inclined to listen. We’ll listen when God breaks through with a powerful message… “it’s all in the relationships.” No other gifts matter when the relationships are right. Our loved ones, our friends, our co-workers…relationships are the true gifts. Relationships are the “stuff” (excuse the necessary poor grammar) upon which peace on earth, good will toward men can ever hope to flourish. We need them, but…but, we do not need them most of all. We need something else more than our loved ones. We need the Loving One.

During this Christmas season, if everything lines up perfectly, we will know without doubt the baby once wrapped in swaddling clothes in the manger, draped in ripped and tattered rags on the cross, now arrayed in robes of righteousness on the throne is the Greatest Gift of All

During this Christmas season, let’s turn our hearts here. In fact, let’s remember it always. The Apostle Paul did. Right in the middle of reminding folks about needs and giving, he wrote…

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.  As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!  (2 Corinthians 9:6-15)

That last line was his heart breaking out with Spirit-induced praise for the greatest act of giving ever. It is the heart of God’s word, the Bible! That gift is not others, or stuff, it’s not even salvation…that gift is Jesus.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”   ~~John 3:16

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Bible

Hyperactive or Leisurely?

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What is it about a really long day that makes it so much better than a short one? Yesterday was filled to the brim beginning with morning church admin business, moving directly into a lengthy hospital clinic visit–including the long drive to and from Lakewood, rushing back to Silverdale so as not to miss little Rachel’s birthday party, then home to watch the news with an unintentional, brief interlude of dosing off (apparently the news wasn’t very exciting), and then off to my room for several hours of reading. In contrast, today’s schedule calls for a few errands and one joyfully anticipated lunch appointment with a good friend and ministry partner. Of course, I’ll find productive ways to use the “empty” hours, but I know late tonight will feel less satisfying simply because every moment was not hyperactive. Is this a good thing or not?

I think both. What do you think?

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. Proverb 13:4

The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. Proverb 19:23

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