A New Reset Phase?

It has been called the "dominion mandate," and it comes from Genesis 1, which deals with the magnificent creation that God has made. We can read these words:
26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

But, to me, it seems that there are those who would want to warp this mandate and worship the creation rather than the Creator, placing a high view on saving our frail planet and putting authoritarian measures in place in order to do so. While we should care about the environment, what passes as "environmentalism" these days has become a religion in and of itself, an idol that has been used in disruptive fashion.  We don't have to give in to a fear-based agenda, using a so-called "crisis" to create a sense of helplessness, which would lure us to trust in the ingenuity of humanity rather than trust in Almighty God.

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While we are called to be good stewards of the earth, we are not called to worship the environment, nor allow fears of environmental catastrophe to corrupt our thinking. Psalm 24 reminds us of God's control and sovereignty:
(1) The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.

I have explored with you some of the dynamics of what is being called "The Great Reset," which is a plan embraced by enthusiasts of global government to inhibit individual freedom and bring a more socialist/Marxist approach to governance to the earth.  The COVID crisis has been characterized as a catalyst for launching this plan.

Interestingly enough, this statement appeared on the website of now-King Charles III, then Charles, Prince of Wales, on June 3, 2020:

Today, through HRH’s Sustainable Markets Initiative and the World Economic Forum, The Prince of Wales launched a new global initiative, The Great Reset.

It goes on to say: 

The Great Reset, which was launched during a virtual roundtable today, aims to rebuild, redesign, reinvigorate and rebalance our world. It has been designed to ensure businesses and communities ‘build back better’ by putting sustainable business practices at the heart of their operations as they begin to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Of course, one of the spokes in the wheel of this so-called "Reset" is the commitment to taking measures to combat so-called "climate change," which has been described as a world-wide catastrophe that propels these globalists to enact their authoritarian agenda on the world.  In November of last year, CNBC.com reported:

Prince Charles issued an urgent call for action at the opening ceremony of COP26 on Monday, telling those attending the climate change summit that time had “quite literally run out.”

Speaking in front of world leaders in Glasgow, Scotland, the heir apparent to the British throne said the Covid-19 pandemic had “shown us just how devastating a global, cross border threat can be.”

“Climate change and biodiversity loss are no different,” he said. “In fact, they pose an even greater existential threat to the extent that we have to put ourselves on what might be called a war-like footing.”

But, this notion of "climate change," which used to be called "global warming" until the data proved otherwise, has certainly not been agreed upon by scientists.  In fact, less than a month ago, the Christian organization, the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation, posted this on its website, from a piece from NTD.com:

More than 1,100 scientists and professionals worldwide have signed a World Climate Declaration (WCD) stating that there’s no climate emergency.

The independent foundation Climate Intelligence (CLINTEL) issued the one-page summary on June 27, garnering 1,152 total signatures in 15 countries as of Aug. 23.

“Climate science should be less political, while climate policies should be more scientific,” the summary reads. “Scientists should openly address uncertainties and exaggerations in their predictions of global warming.”

Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis reported recently that the Great Barrier Reef of Australia has experienced "record growth" over the past year.  He writes:

When I was a high school student in Australia, we were told the reef would be destroyed in my lifetime, but it has not—it's doing great! Ever since the global flood, climates have been changing and will continue to do so. Don't get sucked into the anti-God climate change religion of our present day. Climate change will continue as we live in a post-fall, post-flood world.

One should ask the question: With Charles at the helm, does this bring more exposure and acceptance for principles of the Great Reset?  As FoxNews.com points out: "Charles will have limited power as king to make substantive policy decisions on behalf of the U.K., but could use his position to continuing advocating for climate action."  Like father, like son - this type of advocacy will no doubt be carried on by the new king's son, Prince William; according to People magazine's website, the Prince has said:

"If we do not act in this decade, the damage that we have done will be irreversible. And the effects felt not just by future generations but by all of us alive today. And what's more, this damage will not be felt equally by everyone. It is the most vulnerable, those with the fewest resources and those who've done the least to cause climate change who will be impacted the most."

Yes, there is climate change.  Is there a climate emergency, to the extent that radical measures should be taken?  The signs seem to point to the notion of man-made climate change as a man-made attempt to gain ascendancy to empower a global government. 

William Wolfe writes at the Standing for Freedom Center website:

Christians should care for creation and the environment in a wise and purposeful fashion. This is called stewardship. Working for clean air and clear water, responsible land usage, and the preservation of natural wonders, such as our national parks, are good ways for us to use and even enjoy the gift of God’s creation and the handiwork of His creative genius.

The Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation puts it like this: “Environmental policies should harness human creative potential by expanding political and economic freedom, instead of imposing draconian restrictions or seeking to reduce the ‘human burden’ on the natural world.”

We have seen instances where fear has been used to manipulate people into giving up their freedoms. Decisions made from a standpoint of fear can lead to deception. That was certainly apparent during the COVID crisis, which, unfortunately has become a model for weaponizing a crisis to achieve authoritarian aims.  We have to continue to trust in God and allow His principles to guide our lives. 

Out of the Fire

Throughout our lives, when we experience those "wake-up calls," we can decide how we will respond - in faith, to move toward Christ, or in fear or anger, drawing us away from Him. 1st Peter 4 offers insight into God's desired response:
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

We are not exempt from suffering in this life.  But, the clear teaching of Scripture is that through our trials, we become stronger in the Lord.  As Paul relates in 2nd Corinthians 12, in our weakness, in our suffering, we can know the grace and power of the Lord.  James 1 teaches us that trials bring patience. We can make sure that we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit when we encounter difficulty, so that we can respond correctly and Biblically to adversity.

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We have been placed in this world in order to carry out the instructions of our Heavenly Father, and we will encounter adversity, through which we can be refined. 2nd Corinthians 4 states:
8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

On September 11, 2001, Stanley Praimnath, who is now in his 60's, was on the 81st floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center, according to TIME Magazine.   A story from the Religion Unplugged website published three years ago provided the context for his experience:

He dove under his desk just before the plane struck, and he held on against the air pressure until he was able to stand. He saw a flashlight through the darkness and went toward it, and he and the man holding it began their descent that delivered them from the skyscraper minutes before it collapsed.

The other man was Brian Clark, a bank vice president who was making his way down from the 84th floor and stopped when he heard Praimnath’s cries. They’ve been like brothers ever since. The one shoe Praimnath had on as he walked down those stairs is a treasured keepsake, stored in a box with “deliverance” written all the way around its exterior. Shards of glass are embedded in its thick rubber sole.

The story says that Praimnath was the "only known survivor from the impact zone where United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the building."  He attributes his survival to the grace of God - the story relates:

While the anniversary is difficult for many survivors and relatives of those who died, for Praimnath it is a reminder of God’s grace. He has gotten speaking requests from all over the country in the years since the attacks and tries to grant as many as he can. He’s booked for anniversary talks through 2021. He’ll spend the 20th anniversary at a church in Yuba City, Calif.

Following the attacks, he began to speak in churches on the anniversary year after year. He said, “I figured if God is going to hold his side of the bargain, letting me live, well then I’m obligated to hold my side of the bargain..."

The article noted that Stanley married Jennifer Persram and was, and continues to be, an associate pastor at a church in New York City.  His father-in-law is the Lead Pastor.  The article at Religion Unplugged said, "Church became a priority for Praimnath after he met Jennifer. His faith was strong when the first World Trade Center bombing happened in 1993, which he was also present for. It wasn’t until 9/11, though, that God really got his attention, he said."

For many, 9/11 was a wake-up call - it was short-lived, it seems, but for a few weeks, there was a sense of devotion to God that had been rekindled in our nation.  But, while in some areas, such as national security, things permanently changed, spiritually, it seemed to get back to business as usual.

But, that wasn't the case for Stanley Praimnath.  And, when we experience a crisis - a "wake-up call" - we have to make sure that we are learning God's intended lesson for us.  We can choose to go back to business as usual, or we can depend on Him to change our perspective and/or our practice.  He calls us to draw near to Him when we are in need and not rely on ourselves.

The events of 9/11 can serve to remind us of the dangerous world we inhabit.  There are nations who want to take us out just because of what we represent.  For instance, just this morning, I saw a report on Iran, which is steeped in radical Islamic theology and certainly has nuclear ambitions, has developed "suicide drone" technology that could affect major cities in Israel.  It is being reported on numerous news websites.   In major American cities, there are concerns about increases in violent crime.  Left unchecked, the enemy works his evil - it should propel Christian believers to be in prayer for an expression of God's power.

A G.E.M. of a Singer

In the 2nd chapter of the book of Habakkuk, considered to be one of the books of the "Minor Prophets," the writer is having a dialogue with God, essentially. It states:
1 I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected.
2 Then the Lord answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
4 "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.

God had given Habakkuk a vision - a mission - to pursue and to wait for.  In verse 4, He contrasts the proud person whose heart is not right before God with the one who lives by faith.  We are called to be people of faith who do not merely say we believe in Christ, but to apply His truth and to boldly live it out and proclaim it.  That may involve standing strong in tough situations or speaking out on challenging issues.  But, God is our source of courage and calls us to follow Him wholeheartedly.

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God is calling for people of courage, who trust in Him, to speak out in a manner that is consistent with our faith in Christ. In Hebrews 10, we can read:
36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

Imagine this: a superstar pop singer from China who is a Christian and bold to share her faith.  Think that might cause some issues with the Chinese Communist Party?  Absolutely, but the artist known as "China's Taylor Swift" continues to sing and proclaim her faith.

A Faithwire story relates that: "G.E.M. (Deng Ziqi) is a popular performer whose star rose after joining a 2014 Chinese singing competition called “I Am a Singer 2,” according to Movieguide."  Faithwire
notes: "The 31-year-old singer is so open about her beliefs she recently released a 14-song album, “Revelation.”  It also says, "Deng is also known for sharing her Christian faith on social media."

The article included comments about the album: "Aleteia reported it 'tells a longer story of a conversation with God.' It says, "Her latest music was reportedly inspired" by the Scripture that says, "There is no fear in love.”  She said to China Christian Daily: “In this world where love is badly needed, I trust what I can do is to try my best to create works that make people once again see the love, believe in love, and return to love,” adding, “So it doesn’t matter how many setbacks there are on the way, as long as I can finish them.”

Movieguide relates:

In 2014, Chinese officials put Deng on a list of “strictly controlled” persons because she prayed for Hong Kong during the Occupy Central movement. However, many on the side of Hong Kong and pro-democracy accused the singer supported the Chinese government.

Despite the pain of that hostility from her people, Deng said that she finds her hope, peace, and confidence in God and God alone.

At The Washington Stand, there is a description of one of her latest songs, called, Gloria:

The lyrics describe hearing a voice gently say “… There’s no fear in love … My love has stayed and will never depart ... I am love, and love is patient.” Touched by the realization, G.E.M. falls to her knees in shallow water, surrendering as she weeps. Suddenly the waters part, bringing in imagery from the Old Testament when God parts the waters to make a way for the Israelites to head to freedom. In the music video, the parting waters make way for her to walk towards a door, from which a shining light is emanating. The lyrics that accompany the moment are “I am waiting, waiting for you to come back …”

The writer of the story, Arielle del Turco, states:

It is unusual that a Chinese music artist would reveal their faith through their music. G.E.M.’s decision to do so is turning heads among Chinese Christians and earning admiration from many.

The Chinese government censors music and other entertainment that could be considered a threat to China’s stability. Artists release music knowing that it will come under government scrutiny. 

She adds:

G.E.M. is using her platform — even in a tightly repressed society — to share her story through art and honor the God who saved her. She says that it is her mission in life to be “salt and light.” In Communist China, that takes an extra dose of courage.

We can be challenged by Deng's courage; she certainly knows the stakes in presenting her message as a Chinese citizen. But, she is pushing the spiritual envelope, sort of speak, and is continuing to share according to God's direction.  We are not called to shrink back, but to be bold to declare the praises of our God and King.  

It is a time for courage.  Where there is opposition, we can be bold to stand strong in the face of challenges. On The Meeting House on Friday, you will hear from an organization that contends it has been harassed because of its stand, rooted in its Christian foundations, on rejecting the "gender identity" agenda.  Another guest will discuss how it and other organizations are standing against the attempt to redefine the concept of sex discrimination to include gender identity.  Realizing the landscape and the spiritual issues at play, we can continue to depend on the Lord for His strength and direction.

Life-Affirming

In Isaiah 42, we can read a clarion call to serve our Creator by allowing His love and truth to flow through our lives. We can read these words:
5 Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, And spirit to those who walk on it:
6 "I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles,
7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.

This passage speaks to the supremacy of God and reminds us that He is the one who gives us our very lives. This can certainly affect our attitude toward those who are yet to be born.  It also can give us a heart to love others as Christ has loved us, giving His life so that we might have eternal life and share that life-changing message.  We are made in God's image and we reflect His glory - that realization can instill in our hearts a deep love for those around us.

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We can counter the mindset of a culture that doesn't reverence life by creating what has been called a "culture of life." Proverbs 24 describes this type of work:
11 Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, "Surely we did not know this," Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?

Pro-life pregnancy help centers, also called pregnancy resource centers, are lights on the landscape of our culture.  Some have found themselves on the receiving end of vandalism yet to be prosecuted.  And, generally, there are lawmakers that would want to shut them down and shut out their life-affirming message. 

But, contained within those centers is life-affirming truth: truth about the reality of the life of an unborn child through those which have ultrasound technology on hand.  And, for those who are faith-based, the truth about a relationship with Jesus Christ, the One who has given us life.

And, a new survey shows that there is widespread support for their work, to the extent that there should be public funding for them.  A recent Christian Post article states:

Polling conducted by CRC Research between Aug. 3 and Aug. 7 reviewed by The Christian Post shows that 74% of Americans surveyed support the public funding of pro-life pregnancy centers after learning about their services.

Specifically, 42% of the 1,600 likely voters surveyed strongly support the public funding of pro-life pregnancy centers, and an additional 32% somewhat support the idea.

The survey not only polled respondents, but educated them.  The article notes:

The survey informed respondents that pregnancy resource centers "provide resources for pregnant women in need, including prenatal care, clothing, diapers, [and] housing assistance," "empower women to choose life for their child during pregnancy and after delivery," "allow women to reach their goals and keep their baby" and "allow women facing unexpected pregnancies to keep their baby and give them the tools to achieve success and independence."

And, this support likely transitions into the voting booth, as the article states: 

The poll asked respondents if they are more or less likely to support "a candidate who supports legislation that publicly funds pregnancy centers." Sixty-seven percent of participants classified themselves as "more likely" to vote for candidates who support the public funding of pro-life pregnancy centers. Thirty-one percent said they were "much more likely" and 35% "somewhat more likely" to do so.

Another finding of the survey is that respondents overwhelmingly support the prosecution of those who have vandalized these pregnancy help centers.  The Post story relates:

The poll found overwhelming support (80%) for prosecuting those responsible for vandalism against pro-life pregnancy centers and churches and little opposition to the proposal (12%).

Eighty percent of respondents also agreed that "elected officials should publicly denounce this behavior and call for those engaging in it to be brought to justice." Just 11% of likely voters disagreed with the aforementioned statement.

Plus, around 6-in-10 likely voters said that a candidate's refusal to speak out against this type of violence would make them "less likely" to support that candidate.

I do recognize that there may be pitfalls of pregnancy help centers receiving government grants, because that could result in regulations that could curb their work.  

You may be surprised to know that taxpayer money is already going to pregnancy help centers, according to a piece that ran several months ago at MinistryWatch.  It said at the time: "... in Texas, the same legislature that outlawed abortion will invest $100 million of tax payer dollars in abortion-alternatives programs over the next two years, according to the Associated Press."  The piece went on to say that, "AP tracked spending in a dozen states and found that $89 million was allocated for Christian crisis pregnancy centers...That spending was up from $17 million a decade ago."

So, despite the work of the abortion industry, a portion of which receives taxpayer funding, to discredit the effective work of these centers, this survey indicates an affinity for their work. There does seem to be widespread support, and these centers operate based on the willingness of people in the communities they serve to provide the resources necessary to keep going.  And, even though Roe has been overturned, there is still plenty of life-affirming work to be done.

I have said that these centers are on the front lines of pro-life work - they connect personally with abortion-minded women and families in crisis, and they are countering the lies of the culture with the truth of the Scriptures.  The question for all of us is: where does God want to use us?  Being involved in this type of ministry is certainly a rewarding response. 

Pro-Life Passion and Pro-Abortion Intimidation

Jesus calls us to walk in His truth - to know the reality of who He is and to follow the certainty of His teachings. We have to be aware that there is the potential for corruption for the Church as a whole and for individual believers. 2nd Peter chapter 2 says:
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

There are several passages that come to mind that are similar to this in the Bible, in which the writer is warning against those who will negatively impact the Church by their deception. We find speakers and authors who somehow find a Biblical justification for abortion, homosexuality, transgenderism, and a host of other issues that the Scripture plainly labels as sin. We have to be pure in our beliefs, rooted in a Christian worldview, and be discerning when errant teaching makes its way into the Church.

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God intends for our lives to be centered on His truth, and in Job chapter 31, we find a passage that reinforces the sanctity of life. He states:
13 "If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me,
14 What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?
15 Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?

In two months from tomorrow, voters will go to the polls in mid-term elections.  Nationally, the entirety of the House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate is up for election.  Statewide in Alabama, the entire state legislature and elective statewide offices will be in play.  So, make sure you circle Tuesday, November 8 and be ready to vote.

My Faith Votes has announced its Voter Registration Sunday - it's coming up weekend after next, on Sunday, September 18.  The organization, on its website, states:

National Voter Registration Sunday is about encouraging Christians to bring the solutions of their faith to the ballot box. According to Barna Research, in 2016, 61% of Evangelical Christians voted. That number increased in 2020, but it remains that 1 in 3 Christians do not consistently vote, with participation in local elections even lower.”

Because of the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, pro-abortion groups are sensing an opportunity; My Faith Votes also states on its website, making reference to a Fox News report:

The pro-choice organization Planned Parenthood is pouring a record $50 million into the 2022 midterm elections in an attempt to elect pro-choice candidates up and down the ballot this November. In a press release Wednesday, Planned Parenthood announced its massive midterm spending plan and the launch of its new electoral spending program, "Take Control," following the Supreme Court's June decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, making way for the states to place stricter restrictions and bans on abortion.”

The article goes on to say:

Two major abortion groups, NARAL Pro-Choice America and EMILY’s List, together with Planned Parenthood are planning to spend 150 million dollars to support pro-abortion candidates in the nine states of Georgia, Nevada, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Arizona, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Michigan and Wisconsin. Why these states? Six of those states have competitive U.S. Senate races, which can affect the confirmation of any pro-abortion Supreme Court Justice nominees.

And, here's the sobering news; My Faith Votes states:

Our work is critical due to an alarming trend in voter registration data: in battleground states with pro-life laws, people who are likely to vote for pro-abortion candidates are registering to vote in higher numbers than likely pro-life voters. It is thought that the loss of perceived “abortion rights” is the motivating factor for these new and younger voters. For pro-life Christians, the possible loss of the right to life for unborn babies in these states should be our own motivating factor.

The article quoted from a TargetSmart piece that referenced the earlier defeat of an amendment to the Kansas Constitution that "would have removed abortion as a right and allowing legislators to decide the state’s laws on abortion," according to a Live Action News piece that stated:

Despite the celebration from pro-abortion politicians and advocates, the failure of the Value Them Both amendment was not a sign that Americans are rejecting pro-life laws; instead, it showed that in this instance, the abortion industry had superior messaging. Rather than being truthful about the amendment and what it would do (claiming it was a “ban” on abortion when it was nothing of the sort), organizations like Planned Parenthood framed it as a matter of personal and constitutional freedom.

The article goes on to say:

In the past several years, the abortion lobby has openly campaigned on extreme laws — like the failed Women’s Health Protection Act — and argued that abortion should be taxpayer-funded, and easily available for any reason, at any point in pregnancy. This is not a popular view with the majority of Americans, so it isn’t difficult to believe that the abortion industry could embrace the deception used in Kansas, making the abortion issue one of “freedom” rather than of every human being’s inherent right to life — to not be unjustly killed.

The pro-life movement needs to be aware of this potential messaging change, and be ready to confront these lies with the truth about what abortion really is: the killing of an innocent and defenseless human being.

And, Joshua Arnold of Family Research Council, writing for The Washington Stand, echoes the cry of My Faith Votes to recapture the passion for pro-life action that has driven the movement for the past 50 years, stating:

This was a historic moment, the culmination of 50 years of coalition building, marching, campaigning, public persuasion, and prayer. Wasn’t this the hard-fought victory pro-lifers sought to achieve? Did pro-lifers campaign 50 years to return control of abortion to elected officials, only for those officials to sit on their hands? While some did celebrate, for many, the reply was muted. 

He quotes from his colleague, Director of Federal Affairs at FRC, Connor Semelsberger, who said: “There’s just been mostly radio silence...There really isn’t a unified message.”  Arnold believes that pro-life lawmakers shied away because of what the media was saying.  Semelsberger is urging pro-life candidates to be clear and bold on the issue; Arnold writes:

Semelsberger urged them to give “pro-life Americans that have been fighting for 50 years” something to vote for. These hardworking Americans want “to finally pass laws to protect life. They finally have their opportunity to elect leaders that can actually protect life in the womb. They, too, want to turn out and vote for candidates that they know protect life. But there has to be leadership.”

Leadership like recent Focus on the Family guest, Sen. Tim Scott, who said, according to Arnold, "I don’t believe that [the overturn of Roe] will have a negative impact on us at the polls.” Arnold responds, "Listen to your voters, not your adversaries."

That quote from Sen. Scott is pulled from an interview with Martha McCallum of The Story at Fox News, in which Sen. Scott said, according to Breitbart:

“I don’t believe that this will have a negative impact on us at the polls, to be honest with you. Ultimately the decision about life is not left or right. It’s a wrong or right. I’m thankful that for my mother, she made the choice that brought me into this world, and so many millions of other kids are having the same experience enjoying a fruit-filled life even for those of us starting in poverty.”

Scott added, “It’s one of the reasons why I talked about the painful, miserable story of my grandparents growing up in Jim Crow South in my book. I want people to know that there’s life, there’s reasons to be optimistic. There’s reasons to remain hopeful, to be resilient, to be tenacious, and to know that in America, all things are possible.”

Life has its victories, and while we can certainly celebrate those triumphs - and I would rate the overturning of Roe as such, we have to realize that we are still in a battle for the lives of unborn children. This principle holds true throughout our lives: we don't need to allow a win to make us complacent.  Nor overconfident.  We can continue to be vigilant and realize that the Dobbs decision turned abortion policy back to the states; some even think that it opens a door for the federal government to craft abortion-related legislation.  

So, our votes count, and we have to be discerning about the candidates for whom we vote. While not every candidate is going to be a Bible-believing Christian, as it's been said, we have to find the candidates who best reflect our values. And, we can most certainly be supportive of those who embrace life. 

While abortion is a political issue, it certainly is a moral - and spiritual - one.  We also recognize that there are many who support the taking of unborn children's lives who want to cloak that and shift the focus to things such as so-called "reproductive rights" or a "woman's right to choose."  They will brand pro-life people as "extremists" and ignore scientific data about the development of the unborn child. We have to be aware of the tactics of those who support abortion and make sure we are staying focused on the truth about life. 

Found

Throughout the Scripture, we can see God portrayed as the giver of life - including the first chapters of the Bible in the book of Genesis, where we see God as the Creator and the life-breather and the activity of a baby who leaped in the womb when his mother heard about the coming of the Messiah. God called the prophet Jeremiah in the first chapter of the book that bears his name, where we can read:
4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
6 Then said I: "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth."
7 But the Lord said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.

This Scripture passage points to a God who knows us - who knew us even before we were created, endowed with a purpose before we were born.  Our days have been ordained by Him.  This can remind us of the sanctity of human life and give us an impetus to protect life in the womb.  It can also cause us to think about what God has in store for each of us; there is a meaning for our lives, and God empowers us to follow and fulfill His intent for us.

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This passage in the 139th Psalm can remind us that each life, including our lives, is a precious gift of God. We can read these words:
13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

A while back, I interviewed Arkansas Judge Joseph Wood. He shared the story of how, as an infant, he was "found" after having been left by his mother. He was placed in an orphanage and eventually adopted.

Well, there is more to his story now.  According to FoxNews.com, the judge "commemorated National Adoption Month in November by taking his lengthy search for his biological parents public."  This was over a year after my conversation with him aired in October of 2020.  The Fox story said that Wood had been "left swaddled in a shoebox in front of an apartment building March 20, 1965." 

The declaration of his story yielded fruit: the story relates: "CeCe Moore, a prominent genetic genealogist who specializes in cold cases, reached out to Wood on Thanksgiving after his story garnered media attention from Fox News and other outlets."  The article continued:

Moore said after Wood agreed to accept her help, she and her team of volunteer detectives worked around the clock to build his family tree with the information they uncovered from his DNA, hoping to get him the answers he wanted before Christmas.

This past December 23, Moore called Wood to say a "match" had been found.  The article reports:

Moore's firm discovered that Wood's mother died in 1978 at age 36. His father died in 2007 at 68, one of his brothers died in 2013 at 48 and his maternal grandfather died in 2020 at 98.

There are a remaining brother and sister, and as of March of this year, when the FoxNews.com story ran, there had been no response.

The story said that, "Moore, who often works with law enforcement to determine the origin of abandoned babies, told Fox News that Wood's story is an example of the importance of the safe-haven laws that have been implemented nationwide since the 1990s."  It states:

Safe-haven laws, also known as "Baby Moses laws," are U.S. statutes that have decriminalized leaving unharmed infants at police stations, fire stations and hospitals.

You may also remember my conversation from last September with Linda Znachko, who has He Knows Your Name Ministries, and has been involved with "Safe Haven Baby Boxes."  A story from early July at the KKTV.com website out of Colorado said, " A healthy baby was recently surrendered in a Safe Haven Baby Box in Indiana, making it the sixth baby surrendered in a Baby Box this year." The story stated:

Firefighters at the Mooresville Fire Department immediately tended to the infant when it was placed into the temperature-controlled box.

The story said that 6 states now allow have these boxes.  It stated:

The Mooresville location was the 39th Baby Box installed and offers a safe and anonymous way for new mothers to surrender their newborn babies they are unable to care for.

Monica Kelsey, who founded the Safe Haven Baby Box program, said, "We know this mother loves her infant immensely and we are proud of this selfless act. A loving family will soon adopt this baby and we are so grateful to be part of changing the narrative for this infant and the birth mother..."

A young man from Texas is involved in an effort to adopt a baby that had been found in less-than-ideal circumstances: a trash can in Haiti.  A CBN.com story said that back in 2017, Jimmy Amisial, who is 22, was "on his way to an orphanage in Gonaïves, Haiti when he heard a large crowd of people making a commotion around a trash can." He said, "When I got to the place where the people were making noise I saw a baby," adding, "It was in a pile of trash crying, and there wasn't a single soul who wanted to do anything about it."

Amisial took the baby, who was three months old, to his mother's house, then proceeded to report the child missing.  When police came up empty-handed, a judge asked him if he wanted custody of the child. 

The CBN article relates:

After a few nights of thinking it over, Amisial decided to become the boy's legal guardian.

"You know, in life, if you want to be great you have to learn how to face your challenges. And so, I took a leap of faith by saying yes to God, because when I looked into his eyes, I'm like, I cannot say no to that," Amisial told Austin-American Statesman.

Emilio Enjole Jeremiah is now 5 years of age, and lives happily with Amisial's mother in Haiti.

"He is certainly a blessing and a gift that God has entrusted me to show his love," Amisal wrote on Instagram.

Amisial has raised over $145,000 in order to make the adoption official.

As Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life of America reminded us last week on The Meeting House, every life has value.  We have developed an attitude that the lives of unborn children can somehow be thrown away - discarded in a cruel manner.  Unfortunately, this is a mindset that has permeated our culture and affects our view of one another.  Life is a gift, life is precious, and we should always find ourselves upholding the sanctity of life. We should take the right measures, make the extra step to preserve life.

That sense of value can continue to keep us motivated to serve God wholeheartedly - if we are breathing, God has a purpose for us. We can rejoice in the one who has breathed the breath of life into us and seek to please Him; that includes speaking up for those who are vulnerable and endangered in the womb.

More Than Knowing

There is a connect between knowing and doing, and the Holy Spirit will equip us in order to act on what we know in the Lord. James addresses this concept in the 1st chapter of the book of James, which says:
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

When we look into the Word, we gain insight into who God is and who we are in Him.  With that knowledge in our hearts and minds, we can move according to His direction.  Because we know Him and know who we are, we can confidently step out in faith in order to obey what He has directed us to do in Scripture.  We honor God through walking in compassion, in peace, in forgiveness, demonstrating that we have victory over sin and supernatural strength in the Lord.

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While we don't work for our salvation, in a sense, our salvation works through us. The presence of Jesus produces fruit as we abide in Him, as He taught us in John 15. James chapter 2 states:
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Through her work as a talk-show host on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, as well as the TODAY Show, Kathie Lee Gifford has built a solid reputation.  And, she is a professing believer in Jesus Christ. Last night in theatres across America, her film project, The Way, premiered.  The Christian Post published an article a couple of weeks ago about the project; it stated:

It was this passion for restoring biblical literacy to the masses — something the American Bible Society says has seen an unprecedented drop in recent years — that inspired Gifford’s latest project, "The Way," a symphonic 75-minute storytelling of the Bible, along with the companion book she co-wrote with Rabbi Jason Sobel,The God of the Way: ​​A Journey into the Stories, People, and Faith That Changed the World Forever.

Regarding the notion of "biblical literacy," Gifford emphasizes the importance of understanding the original texts; the Christian Post article states:

In an interview with The Christian Post, the Emmy Award-winning actress, singer and producer lamented that many Christians are no longer intellectually or spiritually curious; content with the status quo and “going to the same church week after week, singing the same songs, hearing the same stuff coming out of their pastors.”

“And a lot of this stuff that the pastors are teaching is not biblical,” she said. “They think it is because it comes from ‘the Bible,’ in quotes, but it doesn't come from the original Bible, which was written in Hebrew and Greek. Unless you're learning the Bible that way and then memorizing the Bible that way and then quoting it that way, you're not going to have power in your life.”

The article notes, "The speaker and author warned about false teachers who fail to preach repentance or misconstrue biblical teachings and insist on 'perpetuating myths.'”

Recently, I came across a story that shows how the well-known communicator put her faith into action. According to the Faithwire website:

The erstwhile “Today” anchor recently opened up on “The Prodigal Stories Podcast” about her brief but powerful encounter with shock jock Howard Stern, who was purportedly embroiled in a one-sided, decades-long feud with the popular TV personality, presumably for no other reason than her Christian beliefs.

The article says, "It all came to a head one day when the two were in the same building."

Seems Kathie Lee had never met Stern - in fact, their staff members had made sure they would not run into one another, keeping them on separate floors of the Rockefeller Center building where they both worked. But one day, she saw him and believed God was leading her to introduce herself. She related how she made her way through a crowd and said, "‘Hi, I’m Kathie Lee. I think it’s about time that we said hello. I just want to wish you all the best on the new show, and that’s it. Just take care. Have a good day.'”

And that was that - except it wasn't.  Faithwire reported: "After she had flown to be home with her family for her son’s graduation, Gifford received a voicemail from Stern, who had called her while she was on her flight." The story says that "he asked for her forgiveness."  The story goes on to say:

He called her a second time while she was at dinner. This time, Gifford picked up the phone and they spoke for about 20 minutes.

When Stern asked for her forgiveness, Gifford recalled telling him, “Howard, I’m so happy for you. Any time you start asking people to forgive you is the beginning of happiness in your life. You’re not a happy man; you never have been and so much of the hurtful things you say comes from — I know your background; you’ve been so hurt. I always understood that. Of course I forgive you.”

“But you’ve gotta know I forgave you 30 years ago, when you first started talking about me the way you did,” she continued. “I forgave you 30 years ago, Howard. I’ve been praying for you ever since.”

The impetus for her forgiveness, the TV host said, is because Jesus has forgiven her sins.

They have reportedly had a few more "friendly conversations" throughout the years.  Situation diffused.

This is a great example of the knowledge of God's Word resulting in obedient action.  We can claim to know Christ and know the Scriptures, but if we're not applying and acting, we are not fulfilling God's will for our lives. 

So, there is a difference between merely knowing and claiming to be a Christian and making sure our actions communicate that we know Him.  Sometimes that means making bold choices, as Kathie Lee Gifford did when she reached out to someone who had been berating her for years.  She even went as far as to tell him that she could forgive him because Jesus forgave her. 

God is calling us to be people who live out their faith - and He has empowered us with the Holy Spirit, who provides us with the direction we need.  We know what to do; it's just a matter of taking up Christ's cross each day and following Him.