Day 2 – January 21, 2013 – Senator Mark Obenshain
Thank you for taking 5 minutes out of your day to use your voice on behalf of those who have none. My general plan here is to make it quick and easy for you to contact Virginia Senators who are in key positions to pass measures recognizing the sanctity of human life (or, in some cases, to obstruct such measures for political reasons).
On some days, I may have other information or commentary to post as well, but I’ll keep the feature Senator and e-mail content/link near the top of each day’s post so that if you don’t have the extra time to read, you can send your e-mail, pray, and be finished. One more note: PLEASE always feel free to send your own, personal note rather than copying and pasting the one I have composed. The important thing is that these Senators know where you stand on this issue.
Here we go:
Senator Obenshain represents Harrisonburg, Page County, Rappahannock County, Rockingham County, Shenandoah County and Warren County. He has been an outspoken advocate for protection of the unborn, and we need to encourage him to continue to champion this cause even as he seeks to be elected as Attorney General. Conventional wisdom holds that politicians seeking higher office tend to play it safe, avoiding like the plague any highly controversial issues. But our goal here is to encourage these legislators to be true statesmen: pursuing what is just and right above their personal political ambitions.
Here is a short message you can copy, then click on the link to Senator Obenshain’s e-mail below, paste in the message, sign your name, and Send! Or compose your own, personalized message if you like.
Dear Senator Obenshain,
Thank you for the many times when you have taken a public stand for the protection of the unborn. Please continue to fight to restore the sanctity of human life in our Commonwealth. It is important to me and my family that the laws of Virginia recognize that human life begins at conception, and that every human being—from conception until natural death—has basic human rights. I am praying specifically for you today, that God would give you great courage to work toward this end. Thank you.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Here is Senator Obenshain’s e-mail address: district26@senate.virginia.gov
Please pray for Senator Obenshain.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
5 Minutes a Day - Day 1
January 20, 2013
Do you have five minutes a day, for the next 2 weeks, to use your voice on behalf of those who have no voice? If so, please visit my blog each day to send a concise, respectful message to those in Richmond who have the power to enact laws acknowledging that human life begins at conception. This is a crucial first step in restoring legal recognition of the sanctity of human life.
For today, please just take a few minutes to pray that God will prosper our efforts and move in the hearts of those who are entrusted with the responsibility of lawmaking. Pray that they would have COURAGE.
Do you have five minutes a day, for the next 2 weeks, to use your voice on behalf of those who have no voice? If so, please visit my blog each day to send a concise, respectful message to those in Richmond who have the power to enact laws acknowledging that human life begins at conception. This is a crucial first step in restoring legal recognition of the sanctity of human life.
For today, please just take a few minutes to pray that God will prosper our efforts and move in the hearts of those who are entrusted with the responsibility of lawmaking. Pray that they would have COURAGE.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
A Woman With a Sign
Every Friday on my way to The Rutherford Institute, I pass by a Planned Parenthood clinic. There is usually at least one person on the sidewalk outside--sometimes a handful--holding signs or just bowing in prayer.
I sometimes wish that there were more people there.
I always want to stop and just go thank these folks for taking a stand that is wildly unpopular and branded by most as "judgmental" or downright mean. In fact, I usually feel a pang of guilt for not being right out there with them.
If we really believe that tiny, helpless human lives are being snuffed out inside that building, isn't it right that we should peacefully protest that? Who knows whether God might choose to work through a well-worded sign pointing a desperate mother to a greater Hope?
Last week, the vision I saw brought me to tears. One woman, bundled against the cold, head bowed in prayer, held a sign that read simply, "I regret my abortion."
That is a testimony.
For me, stopping on that particular day was not an option. But if I ever see her there again, I will stop. I will thank her for doing what all Christians should be about: giving both our best and our mess to the Father--holding back nothing--and letting him use us as He sees fit.
I sometimes wish that there were more people there.
I always want to stop and just go thank these folks for taking a stand that is wildly unpopular and branded by most as "judgmental" or downright mean. In fact, I usually feel a pang of guilt for not being right out there with them.
If we really believe that tiny, helpless human lives are being snuffed out inside that building, isn't it right that we should peacefully protest that? Who knows whether God might choose to work through a well-worded sign pointing a desperate mother to a greater Hope?
Last week, the vision I saw brought me to tears. One woman, bundled against the cold, head bowed in prayer, held a sign that read simply, "I regret my abortion."
That is a testimony.
For me, stopping on that particular day was not an option. But if I ever see her there again, I will stop. I will thank her for doing what all Christians should be about: giving both our best and our mess to the Father--holding back nothing--and letting him use us as He sees fit.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Why "Crazy" Beliefs Count
Last week I worked on two different cases in which federal courts had determined that a religious person's beliefs were not entitled to protection under the First Amendment's Free Exercise Clause. In both cases, the court's determination was based upon scrutiny of the religious belief itself. This should be alarming to all of us.
From a systemic perspective, the First Amendment cannot be the bulwark of consicence protection it was intended to be if courts are permitted to act as arbiters of which beliefs are worthy of being protected. While the U.S. Supreme Court has specifically said as much in multiple rulings, lower federal courts are beginning to test the limits of this doctrine.
But what about us? Do we sit as arbiters? Are we, as Christians, as concerned about the protection of others as we are for ourselves?
Sometimes The Rutherford Institute receives criticism--typically from professing Christians--for providing legal assistance to someone who holds a belief that the critic considers to be "crazy" or (heaven forbid) for representing someone who is not a follower of Christ.
How quick we are to forget the parable of the Good Samaritan! If we are to be lights in a darkened world, we must demonstrate the charity of the Samaritan--the charity of Christ--who makes no judgements as to the "worthiness" of the neighbor to be helped.
At a personal, Gospel level, "crazy" beliefs count because they are opportunities. The person of faith knows that Truth will ultimately prevail, and for that reason is not threatened by the existence of heresies or false religions. Rather, he sees the chance to proclaim the Gospel message in a way that makes men stop in their tracks to wonder at his stooping to help a stranger.
On another level, as John Whitehead has so frequently reminded me, "all freedoms hang together." It just might be my faith that is one day considered "crazy." Indeed, some days I wonder if it already is.
From a systemic perspective, the First Amendment cannot be the bulwark of consicence protection it was intended to be if courts are permitted to act as arbiters of which beliefs are worthy of being protected. While the U.S. Supreme Court has specifically said as much in multiple rulings, lower federal courts are beginning to test the limits of this doctrine.
But what about us? Do we sit as arbiters? Are we, as Christians, as concerned about the protection of others as we are for ourselves?
Sometimes The Rutherford Institute receives criticism--typically from professing Christians--for providing legal assistance to someone who holds a belief that the critic considers to be "crazy" or (heaven forbid) for representing someone who is not a follower of Christ.
How quick we are to forget the parable of the Good Samaritan! If we are to be lights in a darkened world, we must demonstrate the charity of the Samaritan--the charity of Christ--who makes no judgements as to the "worthiness" of the neighbor to be helped.
At a personal, Gospel level, "crazy" beliefs count because they are opportunities. The person of faith knows that Truth will ultimately prevail, and for that reason is not threatened by the existence of heresies or false religions. Rather, he sees the chance to proclaim the Gospel message in a way that makes men stop in their tracks to wonder at his stooping to help a stranger.
On another level, as John Whitehead has so frequently reminded me, "all freedoms hang together." It just might be my faith that is one day considered "crazy." Indeed, some days I wonder if it already is.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
They aren't just numbers.
A friend sent me a link to a Washington Examiner news article today that was deeply disturbing. According to the article, Planned Parenthood's 2011-12 annual report shows a banner year for abortions.
The organization performed 333,964 abortions in 2011. Stated another way, Planned Parenthood was paid to kill 333,964 people. 333,964 babies. 333,964 individuals, created by God in His image. To put this in perspective, last September the death toll for U.S. troops in Afghanistan reached 2000.
And according to a Susan B. Anthony List analysis of the report, Planned Parenthood received a whopping $542 MILLION in various forms of taxpayer funding, comprising 45% of its budget. In Afghanistan, we are (ostensibly, at least) spending money to protect Americans; here at home, we are actually and openly spending money to kill Americans.
This news brings to mind a quote that another friend uses under his signature line:
“When principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, then battle is your calling, and peace has become sin; you must, at the price of dearest peace, lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy, with all the fire of your faith.”
-- Abraham Kuyper (Prime Minister of The Netherlands 1901-05).
To read the article, click here: http://washingtonexaminer.com/planned-parenthood-reports-record-year-for-abortions/article/2517801#.UOwpz4njlF1
The organization performed 333,964 abortions in 2011. Stated another way, Planned Parenthood was paid to kill 333,964 people. 333,964 babies. 333,964 individuals, created by God in His image. To put this in perspective, last September the death toll for U.S. troops in Afghanistan reached 2000.
And according to a Susan B. Anthony List analysis of the report, Planned Parenthood received a whopping $542 MILLION in various forms of taxpayer funding, comprising 45% of its budget. In Afghanistan, we are (ostensibly, at least) spending money to protect Americans; here at home, we are actually and openly spending money to kill Americans.
This news brings to mind a quote that another friend uses under his signature line:
“When principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, then battle is your calling, and peace has become sin; you must, at the price of dearest peace, lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy, with all the fire of your faith.”
-- Abraham Kuyper (Prime Minister of The Netherlands 1901-05).
To read the article, click here: http://washingtonexaminer.com/planned-parenthood-reports-record-year-for-abortions/article/2517801#.UOwpz4njlF1
Sunday, January 6, 2013
A Bit From a Sermon
I love Sunday. This is partly because it is the one day of the week when I feel absolutely justified in just enjoying my family, relaxing, and often exploring nature. But the other reason is because--I confess--I love to hear a good sermon. Now I know that the sermon is not preached for my enjoyment, and I would not have it be so for anything. But my heart rejoices when the Holy Spirit uses one of my pastors or Sunday school teachers to make that one point that I so needed to hear, or to explain a Scripture text to me in a way that never would have occurred to me.
Today at my church, Pastor David O'Dowd referred to Francis Schaeffer. Now I'm already a big Francis Schaeffer fan. He was a mentor to my boss, John Whitehead, and I am currently reading through "How Should We Then Live" with a group of friends from church. Pastor O'Dowd was discussing the fact that over 30 years ago, Schaeffer was already warning us that in the post-Christian era, religious faith would be acceptable as long as it was "privately engaging but publicly irrelevant."
Isn't that what we're dealing with today?
I abhor the way many elected officials and some organizations are unapologetic in taking this stance. You know what I mean: they are outraged that Christians would actually try to live out their faith consistently and publicly, branding this as "trying to force religious beliefs on the rest of us."
But friends, isn't it worse that we actually allow our faith to be "publicly irrelevant" at times? When we are so busy with our jobs, our families, our familiar church circles, that we have no time or energy left to be a light in the dark places all around us in our community, state, nation, and world? While there is a sense in which we certainly can be a light by faithfully caring for our families and church body, isn't our calling broader than that?
Today at my church, Pastor David O'Dowd referred to Francis Schaeffer. Now I'm already a big Francis Schaeffer fan. He was a mentor to my boss, John Whitehead, and I am currently reading through "How Should We Then Live" with a group of friends from church. Pastor O'Dowd was discussing the fact that over 30 years ago, Schaeffer was already warning us that in the post-Christian era, religious faith would be acceptable as long as it was "privately engaging but publicly irrelevant."
Isn't that what we're dealing with today?
I abhor the way many elected officials and some organizations are unapologetic in taking this stance. You know what I mean: they are outraged that Christians would actually try to live out their faith consistently and publicly, branding this as "trying to force religious beliefs on the rest of us."
But friends, isn't it worse that we actually allow our faith to be "publicly irrelevant" at times? When we are so busy with our jobs, our families, our familiar church circles, that we have no time or energy left to be a light in the dark places all around us in our community, state, nation, and world? While there is a sense in which we certainly can be a light by faithfully caring for our families and church body, isn't our calling broader than that?
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2012/feb/24/tdmain05-richmond-woman-became-the-picture-of-prot-ar-1711917/
Make no mistake, the resistance to Truth is fierce. And mobilized. Reports indicated that the abortion lobby amassed 33,000 signatures on its petitions to our elected officials.
Within the next several months, we need to blow those numbers away with an undeniable show of support for HB1. This will be critical, as moving the bill forward for next session will require the Education and Health Committee to hold a special meeting for this purpose prior to November 29th.
The plight of the unborn—and even the newly born—is growing increasingly desperate. A recent article in a peer-reviewed medical journal advocates for “after-birth abortion.” According to the article, since we all know that unborn children are human beings, there is no legitimate basis for prohibiting the killing of infants who suffer from serious medical conditions.
The pro-life community cannot be silent. Please act NOW—sign our online petition, and share it with everyone you know who respects the sanctity of human life.
This is the "face" of the opposition to laws asserting the humanity of unborn children. This photo was taken in the lobby of the Senate Education & Health Committee meeting room, just after the Committee voted to report HB1 to the floor of the Senate...and just before several Republican Senators teamed up with the Democrats to "recommit" the bill to the Committee for next year.
Make no mistake, the resistance to Truth is fierce. And mobilized. Reports indicated that the abortion lobby amassed 33,000 signatures on its petitions to our elected officials.
Within the next several months, we need to blow those numbers away with an undeniable show of support for HB1. This will be critical, as moving the bill forward for next session will require the Education and Health Committee to hold a special meeting for this purpose prior to November 29th.
The plight of the unborn—and even the newly born—is growing increasingly desperate. A recent article in a peer-reviewed medical journal advocates for “after-birth abortion.” According to the article, since we all know that unborn children are human beings, there is no legitimate basis for prohibiting the killing of infants who suffer from serious medical conditions.
The pro-life community cannot be silent. Please act NOW—sign our online petition, and share it with everyone you know who respects the sanctity of human life.
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