Why “Sanctity of Life” Matters

by Jim Litchfield

Last Saturday, January 22, was the 38th anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision which opened wide the door to the killing of our unborn babies. We asked one of our church’s strongest proponents of Right to Life issues to write about what keeps him and his wife Carolyn in the fight.

Abortion.

It is worse than you can imagine.

Abortion. The word itself elicits emotions across the entire spectrum of human feelings. Abortion. Our response to the scope and severity of this issue will undoubtedly be what our generation is judged for in the history books.

Abortion. An act of violence that kills a child. Abortion. Approximately 50,000,000 deaths in the United States since the 1973 Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy. 1,210,000 deaths per year in the U.S. (2005 figures). Approximately 3,315 per day. Every day in the U.S. there are more babies killed by abortion than the number of people killed on 9-11. Abortion. It is worse than you can imagine.

With the 38th annual commemoration of the Roe v Wade decision this month, Christians are once again confronted with the question about what we should do, both as individuals and as the church, in response to the killing of innocent children in our society. What should we do? What does Scripture say we should do?

There are numerous Scriptural references to the sanctity of life, to the fact that life begins at conception, and that we should defend the innocent.

For instance, consider the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37). Is an unborn child our current neighbor (as opposed to merely being a future neighbor) in the sense meant by Jesus when He commanded us to “love our neighbor” in the parable?

If the unborn child is our current neighbor, what is our response supposed to be? The priest and the Levite who passed by on the other side of the beating victim may have felt pity for him but the Samaritan took pity on him. The Samaritan took risks and made sacrifices (a good definition of “love”) to save someone he didn’t know and to whom he owed no obvious duty (an extreme definition of “neighbor”). Even more importantly, if the unborn child is our neighbor now, we should be sobered by the fact that the Parable of the Good Samaritan is Christ’s answer to the question “. . . what must I do to be saved?” (Luke 10:25) Jesus said we are to love God and love our neighbor and then explained who our neighbor is and what real love looks like. How can this parable not apply to abortion?

Good works can’t save us but they will be judged as evidence that our faith is a saving faith. Jesus prophesied that He would judge faith by examining works: “Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite Me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me . . . Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of

these, you did not do it to Me.’” (Matthew 25:41–45)

It is Scriptures like these that motivate me to respond to the abortion holocaust. Theologian Francis Schaeffer wrote that if Christians won’t stand up against something as evil as killing a baby—then the world has the right to ask whether Christ is real. I want the world to know that Jesus is real. I want the world to know that He is alive. And I want the world to hear the gospel, as it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.

Ephesians 5:1 commands us, as believers in Christ to expose the deeds of evil and darkness. The world is watching the Christian Church’s response to the abortion holocaust and deciding what they think about Jesus as they do. If Jesus’ people aren’t doing anything about abortion, a very clear statement is being made about Jesus!

There are many, many ways that Christians can respond to the evil of abortion. First and foremost, educate yourself about abortion. There are numerous websites with all kinds of facts and figures and research (abortionNO.org and abort73.com). Once you have a better understanding of abortion and the enormity of the abortion problem, draw near to God and ask Him the same three questions that Pastor Steve Osborn taught in his sermon in the Sanctuary (January 16) and the Commons (January 23): Where does the Father want me to deploy the finite resources of my life to stop abortion? Who does the Father want me to work with to help stop abortion? And last, specifically what does the Father want me to do to stop abortion? Ask these questions in faith and, as you listen for His answer, pray that the Father answers you just as Jesus prayed the Father would answer

Him (Luke 22), “nevertheless, not my will, but Yours, be done.”

My fervent prayer is that there won’t need to be a 39th commemoration of Roe v Wade next year . . . but rather the first commemoration of the year that abortion ended in our country. Imagine that.

Proverbs 25

 

 

 

 

Proverbs 25

More Proverbs of Solomon

 ¹ These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah: 
² It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
   to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
³ As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
   so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
 ⁴ Remove the dross from the silver,
   and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
⁵ remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,
   and his throne will be established through righteousness.
 ⁶ Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
   and do not claim a place among his great men;
⁷ it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”
   than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.
   What you have seen with your eyes
 ⁸ do not bring^[a] hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
   if your neighbor puts you to shame?
 ⁹ If you take your neighbor to court,
   do not betray another’s confidence,
¹⁰ or the one who hears it may shame you
   and the charge against you will stand.
 ¹¹ Like apples^[b] of gold in settings of silver
   is a ruling rightly given.
¹² Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
   is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.
 ¹³ Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
   is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
   he refreshes the spirit of his master.
¹⁴ Like clouds and wind without rain
   is one who boasts of gifts never given.
 ¹⁵ Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
   and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
 ¹⁶ If you find honey, eat just enough—
   too much of it, and you will vomit.
¹⁷ Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—
   too much of you, and they will hate you.
 ¹⁸ Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
   is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
¹⁹ Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
   is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
²⁰ Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
   or like vinegar poured on a wound,
   is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
 ²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
   if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
²² In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
   and the LORD will reward you.
 ²³ Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
   is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
 ²⁴ Better to live on a corner of the roof
   than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
 ²⁵ Like cold water to a weary soul
   is good news from a distant land.
²⁶ Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
   are the righteous who give way to the wicked.
 ²⁷ It is not good to eat too much honey,
   nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.
 ²⁸ Like a city whose walls are broken through
   is a person who lacks self-control.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 25:8 Or nobles / on whom you had set your eyes. / Do not go
2. Proverbs 25:11 Or possibly apricots

Ed Royce: "Obamacare is a 2 trillion dollar entitlement program"

Dear Friends,
Last year, despite our objections, despite the warnings from economists regarding the sustainability of this program, and despite the overwhelming opposition from the American people – the Democratic Congress passed one of the most intrusive bills this nation has ever seen.
Obamacare is a 2 trillion dollar entitlement program that is "paid for" by higher taxes and budgetary gimmicks. This government takeover of healthcare is an example of the reckless spending and burdensome regulations coming from Washington.
The assertion that this law will somehow cut our budget deficit is proof that logic does not always prevail in Washington, DC.
Just like past entitlement programs, this one will likely be far more costly than previously projected. As a result, our budget deficit will widen and our dependence on China and Japan to finance our debt will continue to grow.
That is why we took an important step and repealed this 2 trillion dollar fiscal train wreck. Now we can begin work on market-based solutions that will actually lower healthcare costs.  

Sincerely,
Ed

Top District Issues

Royce Introduces the Government Reform Act

Rep. Royce introduced legislation that will set up a commission to eliminate waste in the government.  With a growing federal budget, stimulus packages, and government financed bailouts we’ve seen a massive shift towards more government, which has resulted in trillion dollar deficits.  Not only is Washington’s spending irresponsible it is unsustainable.  Moving forward we have got to eliminate wasteful spending and duplicative programs to get our economy back on track.  Click here to read more about Royce's legislation.

Tour the White House in Spring

Did you know that Royce's office can help you arrange special tours of some of the sites in Washington, D.C.?  Many tour locations, especially during peak tour season in the spring, will fill up six months in advance.  If you are interested in touring the White House this spring please be sure to submit your tour request as soon as possible.  To fill out the online tour reservation form, please click here.   Click here to learn how Royce's office can assist you with tours in Washington, DC.

Prayer for a Monday

As we begin our day today let us praise the Lord for a new week and a new opportunity to begin again.  We ask you Lord to be with us as we dust ourselves off and begin again.  Help us to have eyes to see all the gifts you provide each day.  Help us to see the sign posts that point us to you and your will.  Give us courage to follow you, even if it is unpopular to do so.  We thank you Lord for making every day new.  Please bless everyone in our community, mostly those most in need of your loving care, Amen.

 

God of new beginnings, we are walking into mystery.
We face the future, not knowing what the days and months will bring us or how we will respond.

Be love in us as we journey.
May we welcome all who come our way.
Deepen our faith to see all life through your eyes.
Fill us with hope and an abiding trust that You dwell in us amidst all our joys and sorrows.
Thank You for the treasure of our faith life.
Thank You for the gift of being able to rise each day with the assurance of Your walking through the day with us.
God of our past and future, we praise you.

Body Parts on Shelves at Gruesome Abortion Mill

This is painful to read.  With abortion clinics being widely available throughout the United States since Roe v Wade, babies are being murdered every day.  This is but one story of the millions of children murdered at the hands of "doctors".  God help us all. 

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(CBS/AP) PHILADELPHIA - A doctor accused of running a filthy "abortion mill" for decades in an impoverished Philadelphia neighborhood delivered babies alive, killed them with scissors and allowed a woman who had survived 20 years in a refugee camp to be overmedicated and die at his clinic, prosecutors said.

Dr. Kermit Gosnell, 69, was charged Wednesday with eight counts of murder for the deaths of seven babies and one patient. Nine employees also were charged, including four with murder.

Prosecutors described the clinic as a "house of horrors" where Gosnell kept baby body parts on the shelves, allowed a 15-year-old student to perform intravenous anesthesia on patients and had his licensed cosmetologist wife do late-term abortions.

Council Candidate Looks for Attention

2010 City Council candidate, Barry Levinson, sent this to Fullerton's Future blog hoping to get some attention. Barry is not quite as conservative as he would like you to think. At two Republican-leaning forums last year, Barry said he believed abortion was OK if the baby was going to be disabled. Barry's lack of respect for human life caused him to loose key endorsements. But here he is looking for attention on something he has a good grasp on, money.

Since the November 2010 elections, I have read two articles
on the Friends for Fullerton’s Future site that require further discussion. The
first one stated that the rescinding of the utility tax increases of 1994 has
saved the taxpayers approximately 150 million dollars since 1994 to the present
time. Hats off to Council member Bruce Whitaker and all the people who helped
make that rescission a reality. The fact that we were able to elect him to the
council indicates that we are making some progress. But this is not a time to
sit back and savor our victory locally as well as nationally.

We cannot
afford any complacency since another even larger albatross is now facing
the fine citizens of Fullerton, namely the unfunded liabilities for public
pensions and retiree medical costs.

The second article deals with the
reporting by CALPERS that the Fullerton police and fire pension obligations are
now facing a 127 million dollar unfunded liability as of June 30, 2009. In other
words, we the taxpayers of Fullerton are currently on the hook for this
astronomical
amount.

If you add the unfunded liability of the
miscelleous (does Barry mean miscellaneous??) employees as well as the
City’s unfunded retiree health care benefits, it skyrockets up to and probably
well over the 200 million dollar mark! Twice the amount saved from the utility
tax rescission.

I suggest that the citizens of Fullerton have to be just
as irate now as when we were facing the massive utility tax increase in 1994.
The one common thread between these two instances is our city council. We must
make it clear that we the people are watching very closely the actions taken by
our council as they prepare to negotiate with all of the city’s unions! We must
speak out loud and clear and demand that the council vote for significant cuts
in these benefits coupled with significant employee contribution increases.

I suggest that all fellow readers of this blog attend the February
1st Council Meeting to speak to the council during its Open Agenda Segment to
insist that major employee cost savings must be implemented across the board
this year. We must demand no less and be ready to take further
action if a
majority of the council defies the people one more time.

Although Barry makes a good point and demonstrates his background with money, he is lacking core conservative values as noted above. As conservatives, we need leadership that understands and respects the value of human life. We need leaders who have profound faith in God and respect of His children no matter their perfection.

The Fullerton Sentinel respects Barry Levinson's activism and sincere concern for the City's finances. However, Fullerton's conservatives are much more than simple-minded fiscal conservative Libertarians; We are children of God who seek His guidance through the leadership of our fellow man.

Back From Vacation

Yes, even conservatives take vacations.

The Fullerton Sentinel has been collecting information that is sure to spark thoughtful discussion. Please check back soon or just subscribe for the latest on Fullerton's conservatism.

This Week's Prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is despair, hope,
Where there is darkness, light,
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,
not so much to be understood as to understand, not so much to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we awake to eternal life.

--- St. Francis of Assisi

OC Register Reporter Trying Hard

Anyone with their ear to the ground in Fullerton has noticed that the OC Register has been making an effort to report on more than fluff.

In recent days, the OCR's Jessica Terrell has made some attempt to bring the not-so-pretty-side of Fullerton to public light.

Her most recent article is really nothing more than the crime blotter. However, it isn't just a simple one page glorification of emergency services as the Fullerton Observer would like to think but rather it is the raw information of calls received and responded to by the Fullerton Police Department.

Did you notice anything missing? How about just the simple fact the FPD responded to far more calls than the 3 listed for December 15, 2010. The missing information is not the fault of the reporter but rather the omission of the Police Department's Public Information Officer, Sgt. Goodrich.

The Fullerton Sentinel strongly urges the Orange County Register to obtain a complete list of reported crimes and their respective dispositions.

Fullerton's EV Free Wants Young Adults to Connect

Maybe you are checking out Ev. Free for the first time. Maybe you’ve been coming to church for years, and feel like it’s finally time you got involved.

Maybe you just finished college and moved back in with the parents.

Maybe you’ve decided to go back to school or get another degree.

Maybe you’re in relationship with that guy or girl who might be “the one.”

Maybe you can’t remember the last time you went out with someone who was “normal.”

Or maybe you’re somewhere in between.

Wherever you are at, we’d love to help you get connected to others and grow in your faith.

THURSDAY NIGHTS

7:30PM in The Commons, Room 212

Join us on January 6th when we start a new series!

Learn more at: http://www.evfreefullerton.com/connect/youngadults.html

Happy New Year

The Fullerton Sentinel wishes you a very happy New Year!