# 39 - "Terminally Ill Lauren Hill: 'I Feel Like I’ve Done God’s Work, But I’m Not Done Yet' ”   - by Dave Andrusko | Washington, DC | LifeNews.com | 12/12/14; http://www.lifenews.com/2014/12/12/terminally-ill-lauren-hill-i-feel-like-ive-done-gods-work-but-im-not-done-yet/ [AS I SEE IT: When the next edition of dictionaries are published, with the definition for "inspiring" should be the name Lauren Hill and the picture below. After the sad tragedy of Brittany Maynard this fall taking her own life in the face of terminal illness, the courage of this young Christian girl is tremendous. May each of us face our trivial challenges and disappointments with as much courage and selflessness. I look forward to one day meeting her in Heaven. - Stan]

Kudos, congratulations, and sincere thanks to WKRC 12, a local station in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a magnificent profile of Lauren Hill, the 19-year-old college freshman who is winning admirers all over the work for her courageous battle against terminal cancer.

Doctors say Lauren will not live past December. The unyielding march of her deadly disease–Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma —means that Lauren is now in hospice care.

But the courage and pluck and smiling face that lights up a room is as strong as ever, as WKRC’s interview with the Hill family that aired Thursday night demonstrates. If you watch local12.com, be ready to cry for her passing but also be prepared to be moved to tears by the redemptive power of her message.

The station’s Brad Johansen tells us in the introduction that Lauren’s story tells us “The true meaning of the season is within reach.” Indeed, it does. Lauren has played two games on the road for the Mount St. Joseph women’s basketball team. Tomorrow’s game will be her first at home.

“But Lauren, more than most of us, has learned tomorrow isn’t guaranteed,” Johansen reminds us. “Very few of us are looking forward to the feeling of the true meaning of Christmas more than Lauren Hill as her body fails her more every day.”

As you watch the Hill family, clearly Lauren is treasuring each and every moment. Rather than focus on what can’t be done for her, Lauren turns her eyes to those around her—“the people that are right there in front of you.” In “every moment you gotta find that blessing. I believe that’s the blessing in that moment—the fact that we are all in the same room.”Lauren understands the magnitude of what the doctors said in September, and while she is realistic, she adds, “I think God has the last say.”

Clearly the Hills are a very, very tightly knit family Her dad, Trent, told Johansen"that the outpouring of response to Lauren’s ordeal has given me a new perspective on people. There’s always been a lot of good people out there but just the overwhelming-ness of how many good people are out there. That’s the thing that really opened my eyes—all the support; and the letters, and all the comments, made me very proud of her, to say the least,” Brent said. As Johansen put it, “Lauren doesn’t want this Christmas to be just like before. Instead for everyone to value it like she will; undistracted by TV, tablets, and iPhones–as if it might be your last.”

So it is not surprising that Lauren keeps telling her frustrated dad that she doesn’t want anything for Christmas, a sentiment her siblings have seconded for themselves.”’Dad I don’t want anything for Christmas, I really don’t,’” she tells him. What does she want? “I just want to be there, that’s what I want. I wanna be there.”

News of Lauren’s courage and determination first went national in early November when she played for a few minutes for Mt. Saint Joe against Hiram and scored a bucket! And just being there has proved to be an inspiration for many, including, in particular, one girl who wrote Lauren a letter.“She said she was almost at that point of killing herself when my story came out and she saw the way that I was handling everything and she changed her mind.” Lauren said. “And it was awesome.” Lauren added, “That’s the kind of mail that I like to read. … She said I saved her life. That’s what she was thanking me for.”

Johansen said that Lauren’s only fears are the recovery of those she leaves behind and enduring a painful ending with peace. “But then again,” Johansen says, “she’s confident her end here is not the end.”

“I know I will be fine,” Lauren said. “Because I feel like I’ve done God’s work, what he sent me here to do. I feel like maybe, I’m not done yet. Maybe that’s why I’m still here.”

#38 - WEBSITE EVERY YOUTH OF A PRO-LIFE CHURCH SHOULD KNOW ABOUT - "80% of Planned Parenthood Abortion Clinics Located Near College or University" - by Kristan Hawkins | Washington, DC | LifeNews.com | 12/3/14; http://www.lifenews.com/2014/12/03/80-of-planned-parenthood-abortion-clinics-located-near-college-or-university/ [AS I SEE IT: EVERY CHURCH that calls itself pro-life should be educating their youth to know about such resources as the one described in this article. Whether or not they are in college, young people in our churches should know how to direct friends in "crisis  pregnancies" to the resources that will help them choose life for  their unborn child rather than tragically believe that abortion is their only "choice." - Stan]

Students for Life of America (SFLA) announced today the launch of a new and unique aspect to their successful Pregnant on Campus Initiative: a website specifically designed to help students find pregnancy and parenting resources on their individual campuses. This website also utilizes crowdsourcing and surveying of students and administrators to help post pregnancy resources on the site.

The new website is www.PregnantOnCampus.com.

Becoming unexpectedly pregnant while in college can be a scary situation for so many women. Over half of abortions are done on women under the age of 25 and many of these students have no idea about the resources available to them on their college campuses to help them stay in school and parent their children, which is why this website is so unique and needed.

Instead of running to the nearest Planned Parenthood, this website will help pregnant women find resources that are available on their campus right now.

SFLA is the premier organization helping to organize, educate and equip 800+ pro-life student groups on campuses across the country.

SFLA’s own research shows that nearly 80% of Planned Parenthood facilities are located within five miles of a college or university. College students are prime targets for the largest abortion provider in the country.

No woman should have to choose between continuing her education or having a child, even it was unplanned and unexpected. SFLA has worked with universities across the country to help provide pregnant students on campus a one-stop-shop with all the information they need to keep their child and continue their education.

As SFLA has found with their Pregnant on Campus program, many students don’t know that they have options for aid and childcare on campus.

Students for Life groups across the country have been calling attention to the lack of services on college campuses, which results in women seeking abortions as their only option. Our student activists are inspired to change campuses to make them welcoming to pregnant women. They are also prepared to help link them to pregnancy resource centers when help isn’t readily available on campus.

[bold and italics emphasis mine]

# 36 - "New Fetal Heartbeat Apps for iPhones Allow You to Hear Your Baby’s Heartbeat" - by Carole Novielli | Washington, DC | LifeNews.com | 4/24/14; http://www.lifenews.com/2014/04/24/new-fetal-heartbeat-apps-for-iphones-allow-you-to-hear-your-babys-heartbeat/ [AS I SEE IT:This article mentions sidewalk  counselors using this app BUT what if pro-life teens had these apps on their phones. They could then use it to help friends and classmates who were considering abortions discover the LIFE that they carried. Arguments are nowhere near powerful as hearing their child's heartbeat in speaking with an abortion-minded girl or woman. -Stan]



"This is a great tool for pro-life sidewalk counselors: Fetal HeartBeat Apps. Imagine being at the abortion clinic and allowing a woman seeking an abortion to hear her baby’s heartbeat right on the sidewalk. I have put a list of some of the tools: [One is...  UnbornHeart [https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fetal-heartbeat-monitor-unbornheart/id695805041?mt=8]  [Go to weblink to see other apps and watch video.]

# 35 (4/13/14) "Preparing Young People for College - God Isn’t Dead'' -  By: John Stonestreet| Breakpoint.org: April 10, 2014; http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/breakpoint-commentaries-archive/entry/13/24967?spMailingID=8340077&spUserID=MTMyMjM2ODE5OQS2&spJobID=280874146&spReportId=MjgwODc0MTQ2S0



AS I SEE IT: [Spoiler Alert! - I will share things about the film, ''God's Not Dead" that may affect your enjoyment of the movie before you get to see it. You may wait to read my following comments till AFTER you've seen the movie.]  I generally enjoyed the movie and would suggest every college student AND teen (Christian or not) to see the movie. It will leave you with more talking points than probably any movie you've seen in awhile. I especially liked 1) the excellent apologetic material presented by the main character in refuting his philosophy professor, 2) the fact that it stresses the need for Christian students to be bold and not back down when their faith is challenged during their college (or high school) years (God led me to confront one professor after class (should have done it during class). I also met many arrogant professors during the years I spoke in college classrooms as  a guest speaker so I know the prof characterized in the movie is not that unusual.), 3) the scene toward the movie's end when the prideful businessman speaks to his mother suffering dementia; it gave me chills - excellent, and 4) though rather dramatic, the death of the professor at the end served to make the point that we may never know when we will have our final opportunity to get right with God. My reservations about the movie: 1) the main character became belligerent at the end, and seemed more interested in winning the confrontation that expressing God's truth in love. THAT was definitely the WRONG example to be set for how we should present the gospel. When he discovered the personal pain the prof was experiencing in understanding God, he could have addressed the man's need. 2) the stories of the different characters - while very possible - were rather melodramatic, tending to paint those opposed to God's truth as cold-hearted if not evil, which is not always so clear cut, and 3) though one of the characters does express a desire to trust in Jesus at the end, it overlooks that nothing in the student's presentation itself spoke of Jesus nor our need for salvation. And yet, with all that said, I say again that it is a film worth seeing with others just for the great discussion it should lead to after you stop for some refreshments afterwards. (P.S. - Be sure you don't need to take a bathroom break DURING the movie. You just may miss a great scene you don't want to miss.) -  Stan]

Do your college-age kids know that reports of God’s death, to paraphrase Mark Twain, are greatly exaggerated? 

April is college acceptance month for many high school seniors. All over the country, students are jumping up and down over acceptance letters, and many, with their minds already turning to next fall, have a strong case of senior-itis. And many parents, tasked with paying for their kids’ education, also have a case of the flutters, both financially and emotionally!

Our kids should be excited over this coming transition into adulthood. “Going to university,” as the Brits say, means learning new things, being on one’s own, facing new adventures (perhaps cooking and doing one’s laundry), and making new friends. But a serious challenge to a young student’s faith might also be just around the corner.  This is in the new movie “God’s Not Dead.” The film tells the fictional story of a philosophy professor who requires his students to write “God is dead” on a sheet of paper, sign it, and turn it in. The fun begins when one of his students, who is a Christian, refuses.

This is not just a movie scenario. In real life, unfortunately, too many Christian young people wither under the secular assault they face on our college campuses. But, it’s usually not so in your face as the movie portrays. Most aren’t going to face an overt intellectual attack by a professor—although some will. I’ve met few college students who leave the faith because of such a direct assault.

For most, their faith dies by a thousand little cuts . . . doubts about the Bible’s truthfulness, Christian morality, or about the Bible’s view on sin, sex, marriage, human value, and so on. A well-placed snicker or raised eyebrow is just as devastating as any philosophical argument. And don’t forget the morally compromising hook-up culture that they will face. Too many are sadly ill-prepared.

So how do we prepare them in these last few critical months before packing up the car to not only survive spiritually while in college, but to prosper—to go from being a potential victim to a confident witness? Well, I’m glad you asked!

First, I’d be remiss if I didn’t remind you of Summit Ministries, where I’ve taught for the last dozen years. Summit Ministries offers a two-week summer boot camp in worldview analysis and cultural understanding for young people, and trains them to articulately defend the truth when it’s challenged—even by a college professor. They’ll explore the big cultural questions of our day and learn how to develop a biblical worldview in response.

I also want to tell you, however, about two excellent books. The first is “How to Stay Christian in College,” by J. Budziszewski, who was one of our friend Chuck Colson’s favorite thinkers, and mine too. “How to Stay Christian in College” helps prepare Christian young people to answer the standard “lines” they’ll hear in college with soul-satisfying truth, such as the assertion that to make good choices about sex, you have to experiment. Budziszewski’s book will help them understand that many of the most common lines that they’ll hear will express a false worldview.

The other outstanding book is by my friend Jonathan Morrow, “Welcome to College.” Morrow covers a lot of the practical issues that young people face both inside and outside of the classroom. There’s intellectual heft here, but it’s also very reader-friendly.

Each book is great in its own way. And personally, I recommend that you get both. And you can find them at the BreakPoint online bookstore. They’ll make great gifts for your high school senior or anyone who wants to respond to today’s challenges on campus from a Christian perspective.

And come to BreakPoint.org and click on this commentary. I’ll link you to an excellent review of the movie “God’s not Dead.” And we’ll also give you more info about the Summit Ministries summer conference. Hurry, the sign-up deadline is coming up fast. Our kids are worth it, right? After all, God isn’t dead! And their faith in Him doesn’t have to be either, just because they go to college.

[bold and italics emphasis mine]

FURTHER READING AND INFORMATION
Prepare your high school and college-age students to defend, not lose, their faith. Sign them up for a Summit Ministries conference here. And as John mentioned, you can get copies of "How to Stay Christian in College" and "Welcome to College" at the online bookstore.

RESOURCES
Welcome to College: A Christ-follower’s Guide to the Journey  Jonathan Morrow | Kregel Publications | February 2008

''God’s not Dead: Dealing with the Reality on Campus'' -  Tom Gilson | BreakPoint.org | March 19, 2014; http://www.breakpoint.org/features-columns/breakpoint-columns/bp-columns-archive/entry/2/24816

How to Stay Christian in College - J. Budziszewski | NavPress | April 2004

Summit Ministries website - http://www.summit.org/

#34 (4/5/14) "I Can't Turn the Worldview Thing Off! - Send Your Student to a Summit Conference"; By: John Stonestreet| Breakpoint.org: March 27, 2014; http://www.breakpoint.org/bpcommentaries/breakpoint-commentaries-archive/entry/13/24871?spMailingID=8246352&spUserID=MTMyMjM2ODE5OQS2&spJobID=262480075&spReportId=MjYyNDgwMDc1S0

[AS I SEE IT: One of the things that have concerned me for many years is how many young people - even after being in church youth group for many years - become athiests. And this is not just when they've gone on to college, but these days even while they are still in high school. It's why I pray DAILY by name for almost 150 youth, over 50 of them college students. It's why I feel strongly that "youth group" in our churches shouldn't just been times of "sweet fellowship" but even more so times of equipping our youth to confront the secular humanist views that dominate not just their public classroom instruction but the Internet, their conversations with friends, and much of what they accept as entertainment. I believe that when the body of Christ fails to do that, we fail our primary responsibility to our youth. Praise God for opportunities like the Summit Conference talked about below. But my question is why this teaching isn't part of what our youth - YOU-  (not to mention the adults) are regularly receiving in our churches? Is it happening in YOUR church? - Stan


Wouldn’t it be great to see your teenager or college student really excited about loving God with their minds?

For 12 years now, I’ve been teaching at Summit Ministries—an organization dedicated to training young Christians in Christian worldview and preparing them to live out their faith in the world. It’s one of the most fulfilling things I do, and here’s a story that will explain why.

A few years ago a teenager named Chris attended one of Summit’s worldview training programs. And he wrote me a letter afterwards, telling me that he had had a blast, had learned a ton and by the end of the intensive, two-week program, he was completely exhausted—in a good way. In fact, Chris wrote to me after the conference, “I had never had to think so hard … before in my life!” he explained. “So [after the program] I decided I was just going to veg out for the next few days.”

Well, when some friends invited Chris to a movie, he thought it would be a good way to relax and recover from all that hard thinking. But the film wasn’t the mental vacation Chris expected it to be. As he explained in his letter, “Mr. Stonestreet, I tried to veg out during the movie, but I just couldn’t. As I watched it, I kept thinking, ‘Wait a minute, that’s secular humanism, and wait a minute, that’s not true. And what do they mean by that, and how do they know that’s true!’” Chris then joked, “I just wanted you to know that you ruined my movie!” After the film ended, Chris and his friends went out for pizza and talked about the themes in the movie. His friends were astonished at how much Chris had gotten out of the film. As he told me, “They kept asking me, ‘How did you see that? How do you know all this stuff?’ It was a great conversation. And I learned,” he said, “that I just can’t turn this worldview thing off!”

It was that last line that sent me soaring… “I just can’t turn this worldview thing off.” Summit offers the kind of worldview training all Christian students need, but so often don’t receive. That’s why you ought to consider sending your older teenager or college student to a Summit Ministries worldview conference this summer. Summit gives high school and college students a two-week crash course in worldview analysis and cultural understanding. They’ll learn about the major worldviews battling Christianity for their hearts and minds—worldviews like secular humanism, Marxism, postmodernism, and Islam. They also learn how Christianity differs from these false philosophies, and how to articulately defend the truth of Christianity when it’s challenged—whether by friends or a college professor. They will also study the big cultural questions of our day—such as God’s design for marriage; what about abortion and human dignity, or biotechnology issues—and how to respond to these issues from a biblical worldview. The idea is to teach kids to place these battles in the larger context of the war of worldviews rather than thinking about them on an issue-by-issue basis.

Before he died, Chuck Colson said that Summit Ministries had set the “gold standard” for training students in Christian worldview. And research backs that up, as the president of Summit, Jeff Myers described to me on this weekend’s BreakPoint this Week. A recent survey of their 30,000 plus graduates over the last five decades revealed the incredible impact Summit is having on these students minds, as well as their hearts and their trajectories for the Lord. And if kids don’t receive this Christian worldview training? Well, the statistics tell a chillingly different story. Many abandon the faith, and many more embrace harmful ideas that are counter to biblical truth.

And there is a special offer for BreakPoint listeners. If you apply for Summit by April 16, using the coupon code BreakPoint, you’ll receive an instant partial scholarship for a two-week session this summer. Come to BreakPoint.org and we’ll tell you how you can get more information on Summit Ministries—and how you can sign your students up. When they finish, you’ll discover as Chris did that they just can’t turn this worldview thing off.

[bold, italics, and underlined emphasis mine]

FURTHER READING AND INFORMATION
I Can’t Turn the Worldview Thing Off!: Send Your Student to a Summit Conference - 
The worldview conferences at Summit Ministries are great training for your high-school and college-age kids. They'll be challenged to learn why they believe what they believe, and then learn how to defend their faith. Check out Summit's website here. And as John mentioned, if you apply by April 16 using the coupon code BreakPoint, you'll receive an instant $250 scholarship.

Another very helpful worldview resource for all ages is Chuck Colson's book "How Now Shall We Live?" You can get the book at the online bookstore, and the study guide (perfect for small groups) is available through Amazon.

RESOURCES

Summit Ministries website [ http://www.summit.org/]

"Mature Faith or Christian Adolescence?: He Has Risen, Part 1" - John Stonestreet | BreakPoint.org | March 6, 2014; [http://www.breakpoint.org/reseries/articles/entry/53/24699]

The Walk Plus the Talk: Why Truth and Love are Inseparable - He Has Risen, Part 2,By: John Stonestreet|Published: March 20, 2014;http://www.breakpoint.org/reseries/articles/entry/53/24808?spMailingID=8238228&spUserID=MTMyMjM2ODE5OQS2&spJobID=262385599&spReportId=MjYyMzg1NTk5S0

How Now Shall We Live? - Charles Colson, Nancy Pearcey | Tyndale House Publishers | August 1999

How Now Shall We Live? study guide -Tyndale House Publishers | October 1999

#33 (3/29/14) "Like Slavery, Abortion Gives One Person 'Ownership' of Another" - by Niamh Ui Bhriain | Dublin, Ireland | LifeNews.com | 2/14/14;
http://www.lifenews.com/2014/02/14/like-slavery-abortion-gives-one-person-ownership-of-another/

Last week I finally got to watch the acclaimed film 12 Years a Slave, which tells the story of Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Louisiana.
It’s a harrowing and unflinching film that doesn’t spare the viewer – and rightly so.

A scene from the film 12 Years a Slave

Slavery, a practice largely brought to the United States by the Dutch and British empires, was legal in that jurisdiction (and beyond) for two hundred years. The cruelty endured by the men, women and children forced into slavery at that time has, with some exceptions, largely gone untold on film.Steve McQueen’s movie upends all that by revealing the horrors of slavery in unsparing detail, and the impact is devastating

The scenes of pitiless exploitation, sexual abuse, starvation, humiliation, and savage beatings are so profoundly disturbing that their imprint is unforgettable.The cruelty and degradation is almost unimaginable, but it happened again and again, and it was given legal sanction, not because slave owners truly believed those held in slavery to be less than human, but because it was economically advantageous for them to do so.

In the role of malevolent slaveowner, Edwin Epps, the actor Michael Fassbender gives an unsettling portrayal of a deranged, sadistic and horrendously violent man. History shows there were, sadly, too many like him, and too many others, who turned a blind eye to the suffering of their fellow human beings.

However, the violence seen in screen isn’t the most shocking thing about the film. What’s most 
disturbing is that Epps and others were protected by the law, and that nothing in the law could have stopped Epps, or any slaveowner, from b

#32 (2/27/14) "What to Do If Your Boyfriend Wants You to Get an Abortion?"

 - by Krisi Burton Brown | Washington, DC | LifeNews.com | 2/20/14;http://www.lifenews.com/2014/02/20/what-to-do-if-your-boyfriend-wants-you-to-get-an-abortion/

[NOTE: My most favorite bumper sticker on my car states: "Real men don't pressure women to abort" - Stan]

Washington, DC (LiveActionNews) — Note: This article is for any girl or woman who is feeling pressured into having an abortion. If you are a guy who is trying to find out how to stop an abortion, please see this article written for dads.[http://liveactionnews.org/abortion-and-men-whats-a-father-to-do/]

1.  Stand your ground.

You know you don’t want an abortion. Maybe you know in your heart that your child is a real, live person (you’re right!). Maybe you know your science and facts already. Maybe you can’t bear to be a part of killing an innocent human being. Maybe you already love your child. Maybe you or someone you know has had an abortion, and you know the physical and emotional pain that comes with it.

Whatever your reason, you do not have to get an abortion. It is against the law for anyone to force or coerce you to get one. You are your child’s mother, and no one – not your boyfriend, husband, parents, pimp, teacher, or lady at the grocery store – can make you get an abortion.

   Let your “no!” mean “no!” – no matter what anyone else tells you. Your baby is a new, unique person who deserves a chance at life. Period.

If you ever need to be reminded why you don’t want an abortion, read real stories  [http://www.teenbreaks.com/abortion/girlswhoaborted.cfm?start=35] from real women who have had abortions.

Their experiences will remind you why you don’t want to do this, and will help keep you strong in difficult moments. (You can also read encouraging stories from girls who have been in your situation! Check out the Embrace Grace blog [http://iembracegraceblog.com/] or the book A Bump in Life [http://www.amazon.com/Bump-Life-Stories-Unplanned-Pregnancy-ebook/dp/B00F0UEN4Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392858482&sr=8-1&keywords=a+bump+in+life] .)

More stories:

Until We Meet Again [http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-928196]
Hundreds of women share their deep regret and pain after abortion [http://liveactionnews.org/cnn-special-report-features-hundreds-of-women-who-regret-their-abortions/]
Heartache and Hell [http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-928155]
I Regret Killing My Child [http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-928057]
Soul-Deep Ache [http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-928263]

2.  Seek legal help when necessary.

If you are in an abusive, dangerous, or threatening situation, seek help. If you need to contact the police, do so. If you need an attorney on your side, he or she can help you get a restraining order against someone who is trying to force you to have an abortion. Your attorney can also send a letter to all abortion clinics or hospitals in your area and advise them that if you are brought to them for an abortion, it is against your will and they are not to perform one.

There are several legal organizations that often help at no cost. You can contact Alliance Defending Freedom, the Thomas More Law Center, the ACLJ, Liberty Counsel, the American Freedom Law Center, Life Legal Defense Foundation, the Law of Life Project, the Texas Center for Defense of Life, or the The Foundation for Moral Law. And just because one attorney tells you no, that doesn’t mean there’s not another one out there willing to help you. So keep trying, and don’t take no for an answer (though you probably won’t have to). These attorneys are usually more than happy to take cases like yours.

Just remember – you do not need to stay with someone who is physically or emotionally abusive to you, or someone who pressures you to kill your child. An ultrasound and seeing the baby’s heartbeat do change a number of guys’ minds, so give him that chance if you think it’s best, but if your boyfriend continues to pressure and threaten you, get out.

3.  Find emotional, spiritual, and material support.

It can be draining to do this alone. No matter how much you love your baby, you may get overwhelmed, sad, angry, and stressed out. But you don’t have to do it alone! Find someone you can discuss your parenting plan with or someone you can talk about adoption with, if that interests you. Find someone who will go shopping for baby clothes with you, someone who will be excited for you!

Pregnancy resource centers [http://liveactionnews.org/in-recognition-of-pregnancy-centers/]can be a lifeline for you right now. They can help with many things – pointing you to resources for medical help, giving you prenatal vitamins and baby supplies, equipping you with the real facts about abortion and fetal development, listening and talking to you, believing in you and in life for your child, and often, giving you free ultrasounds. Sometimes all your boyfriend may need to change his mind is to see your baby on that screen, with her tiny heart beating away.

As I’ve written before: You can locate a pregnancy center in your area by visiting Option Line’s [http://www.optionline.org/get-help] or Pregnancy Line’s websites [http://pregnancyline.com/] and entering your zip code. Image Clear Ultrasound [http://icumobile.org/] or Save the Storks [http://savethestorks.com/] may also have a mobile ultrasound unit in your area – contact them to find out or ask if they will come where you are. They will provide a free ultrasound and someone helpful for [you] to talk to. …

Embrace Grace [http://www.iembracegrace.com/], Hidden Choices[http://www.hiddenchoices.org/], and Teen Mother Choices International[http://www.tmcint.org/] are three amazing organizations that can help some women throughout their pregnancies. Embrace Grace also has a blog with stories of women who chose to keep their babies or give them to a family through adoption[http://iembracegraceblog.com/]..

4.  Know your facts so you can fight for your child and yourself.

Here are some resources I’ve pointed to in an earlier article:

You can read up on the scientific[http://liveaction.org/blog/the-scientific-basis-for-defending-all-human-life/], moral [http://liveactionnews.org/the-moral-basis-for-defending-all-human-life/], and philosophical bases[http://liveaction.org/blog/the-philosophical-basis-for-defending-all-human-life/] for defending human life.
You can learn a lot of information by going through this well-done and very interesting research paper that covers several aspects of abortion, including possible mental and physical health effects on women.[

Here are ultrasound and other images, a heartbeat recording[,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MvrPPtUq98] and developmental info [http://www.lifenews.com/2012/12/31/spectacular-images-of-fetal-development-now-available-as-ibook/] of unborn babies at various ages.
Accurate descriptions of what happens in two of the most common forms of abortion can be found here (suction abortion) and here (D&E). The Silent Scream is a YouTube video of an actual abortion that shows a baby trying to escape[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gON-8PP6zgQ]. Interestingly, the doctor who performed the abortion in this video quit after he saw the video because what he was actually doing bothered him so much.

The girl is moving in the womb; displays a heartbeat of 140 per minute; and is at times sucking her thumb. As the abortionist’s suction tip begins to invade the womb, the child rears and moves violently in an attempt to avoid the instrument. Her mouth is visibly open in a “silent scream.” The child’s heart rate speeds up dramatically (to 200 beats per minute) as she senses aggression. She moves violently away in a pathetic attempt to escape the instrument. The abortionist’s suction tip begins to rip the baby’s limbs from its body, ultimately leaving only her head in the uterus (too large to be pulled from the uterus in one piece). The abortionist attempts to crush her head with his forceps, allowing it to be removed. In an effort to “dehumanize” the procedure, the abortionist and anesthesiologist refer to the baby’s head as “number 1.” The abortionist crushes “number 1″ with the forceps and removes it from the uterus.

You can also find good videos[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_C-jBMOJaI], ads[http://www.virtuemedia.org/view-ads.shtml], and documentaries about abortion and help for pregnancy from many different organizations.

Conclusion - In the end, remember that you are fighting for your child and for yourself as a mother. You are the only one who is this baby’s mother, and his [or her] life is very much in your hands. You are strong, and you are capable; you were made that way. And you are already a mother. Not a potential mother. One right now, in this moment.

“At 8 weeks, this baby can kick and straighten his legs, and move his arms up and down.” This and other incredible 4D ultrasound photos can be found here – copyright of Life Dynamics.[http://prolifeamerica.com/4D-Ultrasound-pictures/]

So fight with all you have for the life of your baby. And find someone who will fight for you. If you believe in Christ, you know that you already have Someone Who is fighting on your behalf right now. And He has already conquered death.

I’ll close with the beautiful words of a young mother whom I had the privilege of talking with. Despite her boyfriend’s opposition (which changed after she wrote this) and her parents’ disapproval, she gave life to her baby girl:

"I know your scared. I was so scared and my ex wouldnt even let me tell my friends. I felt so alone, but when I finally told them I got so much support and my best friend even went with me to tell my parents. Sometimes you need that buffer. … I would at least listen to your baby’s heart beat. That literally chanced my mind completely. …"

"I even went with my ex-boyfriend (the father of my daughter) to the first appointment to get an abortion. But as soon as I heard her heart beat I knew I couldn’t do it. My boyfriend pressured me but I knew that no matter what even if I gave her up for adoption at least she would be alive. … I didn’t want my mom to know either and I hid my pregnancy from my parents actually till about a few weeks ago. (I’m 6 months pregnant now). It didn’t go well, so I understand how hard it is. I’m not even on speaking terms with my parents. But at least I know that my daughter will have my love no matter what. My ex is barely in the picture only coming around when he feels like it. The are places that can help you. my advice would be to at least hear your baby’s heart beat. Believe me it is probably the most amazing thing I have ever experienced and the reason I am now going to raise my daughter on my own with out my parents or her dad. …"

LifeNews Note:  Kristi Burton Brown is a pro-life attorney, volunteering for Life Legal Defense Foundation and as an allied attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom. She is also a stay-at-home mom and an assistant editor for Live Action News. This column originally appeared at Live Action News and is reprinted with permission. [This is re-posted with permission from LiveActionNews- Stan] [bold, italics, and underline emphasis mine. - Stan

Stan]  [bold, italics, and underline emphasis are mostly mine - Stan]   tan]

# 30 (2/1) A Counterfeit Worship Service At the Grammys

"Same-Sex Marriage and Witchcraft" - Truth in Action Ministries, January 28,2014; http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=cd47cf2b58ae89c48e0c22cbe&id=7143e8c002&e=cca48189c6


As you may have seen, this past Sunday night’s Grammy Awards program, televised nationally on CBS, featured a mass wedding ceremony that included numerous same-sex couples, officiated by actress/singer Queen Latifah, and solemnized by the singing of Madonna.

In fact, much of what we saw Sunday night was a counterfeit worship service, though it was clearly not the true God who was being worshipped. Since the entertainment industry has devoted much of its efforts in recent decades to increasingly inane (and in this case exploitative, as the entertainers used the wedding couples as pawns for their own publicity stunt) attempts to be “transgressive,” we shouldn’t really be surprised.

And, of course, this is yet another demonstration of what the Apostle Paul himself described in Romans 1: “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!” (Romans 1:24-25, ESV). Counterfeit worship is a direct result of rejecting God, and Sunday night’s “service” featured everything from a choir to mock-stained-glass windows.

One of the interesting aspects of this year’s Grammy telecast (which also included former Christian contemporary musician Katy Perry, who performed as a literal witch emerging from a crystal ball and casting spells) is that such a thing can be televised nationwide and raise little more than a collective yawn.

The late Dr. D. James Kennedy, founder of Truth in Action Ministries, once said of Hollywood, “It continually desensitizes us until we come to accept things that at one time we would never accept at all.”

In our desensitized culture where idolatry is commonplace (and Paul makes it clear that among other things, homosexuality is a form of idolatry) it’s never been more important for Christians to pursue holiness. And in the face of such a “worship service,” it is harder and harder to justify our appetite for popular culture.

Culture is a reflection of our own particular choices. Sunday evening’s telecast once again broadcast to the world every sign of a culture under the judgment of God. Let us pray for repentance and for the furtherance of the life-giving gospel that frees us from sin and idolatry and enables us to worship the True God!

Sincerely, Jerry Newcombe, Truth In Action Ministries

[bold and italics emphasis mine] 

#29 (1/18/14) GIRLS, Women Often FORCED To Abort

January 22nd each year marks the anniversary of when abortion was made legal in the U.S. This year we note 41 years that this has been going on; over 55 million babies and tens of millions of GIRLS and women are being victimized.Did you know that GIRLS as young as those in MIDDLE SCHOOL are getting abortions?!!! And it often is NOT their CHOICE! Be informed about this subject so that you can speak intelligently to your friends. 

"New Study Means Large Number of Women Coerced, Pressured Into Abortions" - by Dr. Priscilla Coleman | Washington, DC | LifeNews.com | 1/13/14; http://www.lifenews.com/2014/01/13/new-study-means-large-number-of-women-coerced-pressured-into-abortions/

[AS I SEE IT:On my car, I have a bumper sticker that reads, " Real men do not pressure women to abort." I remember a time when I came out of a store and saw a man reading my bumper sticker in a most thoughtful way. If it made just him reconsider something he was guilty of, I like to think that one sticker may have helped save a Mom as well as her unborn child. - Stan]

In February 2011, Philadelphia resident Tiffany Gillespie, 24, was six-months pregnant with her 3rd child when she was allegedly shot to death by her boyfriend, Aaron Fitzpatrick. The killing apparently followed an argument wherein Fitzpatrick tried to convince her to have an abortion and she refused.

A paper published this week in PLOS Medicine, “Associations Between Intimate Partner Violence and Termination of Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis” by Megan Hall and colleagues from King’s College in London is an extensive scientific review of the association between intimate partner violence and abortion, with great sensitivity to the complexities inherent in the published literature on the topic.

Key results are considered briefly below; however the review is so dense with noteworthy findings that interested readers are strongly encouraged to read the original report. (http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001581) Moreover, by highlighting the gaps and ambiguities in the literature, the authors offer a wealth of additional ideas for research on this large, highly vulnerable, and characteristically very sad segment of the female population.

Results

1) Intimate partner violence, including history of rape, sexual assault, contraception sabotage, and coerced decision-making, was associated with abortion. Unfortunately with the limited data available to the authors, it was not possible to ascertain the typical timing of exposure to violence relative to abortion. However, it is likely that various patterns exist, with violence both preceding and following abortion in many victims’ lives. Escalation of violence after the procedure is a strong possibility, particularly when partners are against the abortion. In a high quality study by Fisher and colleagues (2005) published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the authors reported that women presenting for a third abortion were over 2.5 times more likely to have a history of physical or sexual violence than women presenting for their first.

2) Women in violent relationships were more likely to have concealed their abortion from partners compared to women who were not victims of violence. Women likely believed they could not continue the pregnancy and were afraid of the abusive partner’s behavior if the abortion had been revealed. Many women in abusive relationships may feel they have to abort, because they are trying to free themselves from the relationship, they do not want to bring a child into a home with violence, and/or they do not believe they have the emotional energy to go through a pregnancy and raise a child, among other reasons. With sensitive, appropriate pre-abortion counseling, women in abusive relationships can be identified and safely assisted out of the violent, dangerous situation and helped to continue their pregnancies if desired. Without sensitive, substantive care, abortion is often perceived as the only option available.

3) Women welcomed the opportunity to disclose IPV Intimate Partner Violence] and to be offered help. Women who present at abortion clinics are often at a point where they are quite receptive to help, and if screening and intervention do not occur, countless women will continue their lives feeling trapped and afraid in a violent relationship.[This points out why so-called "buffer-zones" around abortion clinic do not in fact protect when seeking abortions but in fact prevent many from getting the help they really want. - Stan] If the abortion takes place, then there is a high probability that they will suffer psychological consequences as a result that further compound a life marked by significant suffering. Numerous studies from the peer-reviewed literature have documented the fact that women, who feel pressured by partners, abortion counselors, other people in their lives, and/or by life circumstances, are more likely to experience post-abortion mental health problems.

Conclusions:  Strong conclusions are made by the authors: “Health-care professionals should be aware of the high rates of physical, sexual, and emotional violence among women seeking TOP (termination of pregnancy), and particularly the clinical factors associated with the greatest risk: previous TOP, lack of contraception, initially planned pregnancy, ultrasound re-dating, and the partner not funding or not being told about the TOP.” They further state: “Good practice obligates that termination services should have robust policies for ensuring women’s safety and confidentiality, providing information and referral pathways for those who disclose IPV, and exemplar guidance exists.”

This research report by Hall and colleagues is without a doubt the most extensive review of the literature on the topic of intimate partner violence and abortion. Nevertheless, the conclusions should be tempered by the limited high quality original research that has been conducted in vastly different cultural settings on the topic. To their credit, the authors went to great lengths to objectively evaluate the quality of each study summarized in the general narrative review. However, I’m not sure why they bothered to include those that were identified as being of very low quality.

Routine screening for intimate partner violence in general, and coercion to abort in particular, is far from the norm. Instead, abortion providers callously and routinely look the other way, even when women present with obvious symptoms of domestic violence. Since the majority of intimate partner homicides occur in the context of pre-existing physical abuse, identification and intervention with women at risk, particularly women seeking abortions, carries great potential to preserve women’s health and lives, while also empowering them to continue their pregnancies.

[bold and italics emphasis mine]

LifeNews.com Note: Dr. Priscilla Coleman is a Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at Bowling Green State University.

"25% of Women Getting Abortions Faced Physical, Sexual or Emotional Abuse Beforehand" - by Steven Ertelt | Washington, DC | LifeNews.com | 1/8/14; http://www.lifenews.com/2014/01/08/25-of-women-getting-abortions-faced-physical-sexual-or-emotional-abuse-beforehand/