Dear Mike,
We're hearing a lot about service these days --
giving back to the community. What better way to give
back something truly valuable than by taking part in
this fall's 40 Days for Life campaign!
I have a particular reason for mentioning this.
This past Friday, President Obama spoke at a forum on
volunteerism at Texas A&M University in College
Station -- the same community where 40 Days for Life
began. His speech was delivered just over one mile
away from the site of the first-ever 40 Days for Life
campaign back in 2004.
During his remarks, President Obama promoted a
government web site that identifies various volunteer
opportunities for people.
While that web site does include information about
some pro-life organizations, I was more than a bit
miffed to learn that one of the posted "volunteer
opportunities" comes from the Houston-based Planned
Parenthood operation that runs the abortion facility
in College Station.
The recruitment post asks young people to do "public
service" work for their organization and pleads, "We
need your help with a very simple but honorable job."
The so-called honorable job? Abortion escorts --
specifically to counter the effectiveness of 40 Days
for Life.
Planned Parenthood describes 40 Days for Life vigil
participants as people who "want to deceive our
clients with misinformation and lies then prevent
them from entering our health center for care." That
in itself, of course, is an extreme example of
misinformation.
But this shows why 40 Days for Life needs more
faithful volunteers for the simple -- and TRULY
honorable -- task of praying for an end to abortion
outside the very places where this evil is practiced.
Young people in Houston were recently offered the
challenge to stand up for life. And boy, did they
ever respond!
The 40 Days for Life team in Houston asked, "Can you
imagine over 300 teens getting up early and coming
out to a pro-life rally and march on a Saturday
morning?"
The answer, of course, was an amazing YES!
To see a picture from this event, the March of the
Surviving Children, go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=412
After they arrived at the Planned Parenthood location
that is the site of a 40 Days for Life vigil, they
marched around the entire block seven times praying
and singing. "And, to top this wonderful morning
off," the Houston team reported, "we believe that
there was a baby saved!"
Students from a Fort Wayne, Indiana school -- along
with their parents -- decided to embark on a
prayerful service project as well. They gathered
almost 400 people to take part in the 40 Days for
Life vigil at the local abortion center.
"Even in the rain," said Evelyn in Fort Wayne, "these
students marched from their school, about a mile from
the site, and stood as witnesses for 40 Days for
Life."
There were so many people it takes two pictures to
show them all! Check them out at:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=412
I'll close today's message with a story of REAL
service ... and REAL hope.
Go here to meet Isaiah:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=412
Isaiah was born this past Thursday in Riverside,
California.
Karen in Riverside reported a baby saved within the
first couple of hours on the first day of last
spring's 40 Days for Life campaign. That baby, of
course, was Isaiah. The Riverside team found
assistance for his mom through her pregnancy and
recently held a baby shower for her.
THAT is the spirit of genuine, compassionate service
that goes back generations and MUST remain alive.
THAT is the story that must be told!
Praise God for the TRUE service that is provided by
all of you praying and fasting for an end to abortion
during this 40 Days for Life campaign!
Here's today's devotional from Rev. Ben Sheldon,
President Emeritus of Presbyterians Pro-life and
National Pro-life Religious Council...
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DAY 28 INTENTION
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We pray for the conversion of abortionists and all
abortion advocates.
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SCRIPTURE
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"Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the
evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do
evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the
oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the
widow."
-- Isaiah 1:16-17
-----------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Rev. Ben Sheldon
-----------------------------------------------------
God is just.
Inscribed around the inside of the Jefferson Memorial
in Washington, DC, are the immortal words of Thomas
Jefferson: "I tremble for my country when I reflect
that God is just."
If the deist, Jefferson, knew in the depths of his
being that God is just, how much more ought we
Christians to reflect on this profound truth?
The justice of God, like his holiness and his purity,
encourages us to seek justice for all people. It is
the evil deeds and wrong, selfish attitudes of our
modern society that have led to the cavalier
acceptance of abortion and euthanasia.
But, as Jefferson also said, "his justice will not
sleep forever."
God is calling us today to seek justice, to encourage
the oppressed, and to defend the orphans and widows
of our society.
It is a noble calling! It is one which every true
believer, every God-fearing man and woman, should
heed with no hesitation and no reluctance.
To follow the God of justice and truth is to stand
unequivocally for the right to life of everyone,
especially the unborn, the physically disabled, and
the terminally ill.
God's word through the prophet Isaiah is as relevant
in today's 21st century world as it was in Isaiah's
8th century BC world. May God's grace help us to
defend the unborn's right to life as well as that of
the already born.
-----------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
-----------------------------------------------------
O God, our heavenly Father, give us courage and
wisdom as we seek to eradicate the evil in our
society. Help us to realize that your divine Spirit
alone can change hearts and minds so that all your
human creatures may enjoy the fullness of life you
intended for them. I pray this prayer in the name of
Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, Amen.
-----------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
-----------------------------------------------------
To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/fall2009day28print.pdf
-----------------------------------------------------
I wanted to let you know about a wonderful pro-life
event going on today, Tuesday, October 20, that
complements this current 40 Days for Life campaign.
Students from more than 3,300 school campuses are
participating in Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity to
raise awareness about the injustice of abortion by
taking a vow of silence for one day in solidarity for
the 4,000 children who die from abortion each day.
Red arm bands and duct tape will identify them as
taking part in the Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity.
Anyone can participate (you don't even have to be a
student :-) and you can use the time of silence to
pray and fast for an end to abortion.
Learn more and find out how you can participate at:
http://www.silentday.org
Yours for Life,
David Bereit
National Director
40 Days for Life
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