Possible Planned Parenthood clinic to be built in Katy area July 1, 2008

An online story today caught my eye: Planned Parenthood expands to Houston suburbs. One of those “Houston suburbs,” according to the story, could possibly be the Katy area. The reason for the expansion, officials say, is to diversify its revenue base by reaching the poor as well as the affluent who need healthcare, too.

Most of the Planned Parenthood clinics, at least in Houston, are located in low-income areas making affordable healthcare and medical services accessible. Not many people are able to take a bus (if you can find one) from the suburbs into town to get an annual check-up or take a pregnancy test so Planned Parenthood is hoping to fill in the gap. Oh, and the story devoted about four paragraphs to the clinic’s founder, its purpose and its most controversial procedure, the abortion.

However, there is one problem I see, at least in the Katy area. Based on the number of growing clinics for the uninsured and low-income (Breath of Life Children’s Clinic, Christ Clinic and UTMB’s Maternal Health Center), families from across the spectrum are being served. Most, however, do not know about the free or reduced-cost resources available and instead opt for the more widely-known health providers. In addition, the rapidly-growing Katy community has a pregnancy care center that offers free pregnancy tests and directs clients to STD/HIV testing, which is also offered at Planned Parenthood. In a community that is set to gain at least three new well-known hospitals in the next few years, are there not enough services for those in need?

So, is PP’s true purpose to make itself more accessible to the poor and wealthy living in suburbs, or is the organization attempting to do what Margaret Sanger set out to do more than 90 years ago – rid society of its most lowliest creatures by aborting those unwanted babies being born to the poor? We may never know the answer.

But one thing I do know is that if a Planned Parenthood makes its suburban debut in Katy there will be many pro-lifers waiting at the doors of the clinic to inform young women that their babies are just that – babies. Even if only a small percentage of women seek abortions at the clinic, one baby saved is one less that is killed. And at the same time, while the possibility of seeing a Planned Parenthood clinic in Katy could cause many people to protest, create some sort of division or stir up a righteous anger, I do believe the great writer of the book of Philippians has a timely word for Christians desiring to save those lambs being sent to the slaughter:

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents–which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. Philippians 1:27-28

Christians are called, urged, mandated by God to help end killing in the womb March 10, 2008

After reading this Biblical Mandate by pro-life group Abort73 urging Christians to do something about abortion, I was so encouraged to do all I can to defend the defenseless and be a voice for the voiceless. The message stems from James 1:27 which says

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Please take time to read through the entire page but I’ll leave you with a few excerpts:

There are some in the church who are so focused on being “unstained from the world” that they isolate themselves almost completely from the suffering of those around them. They read the Word, they pray, but they stay far away from the ugly and messy needs of the downtrodden (like orphans, widows and unborn children). There are others in the church whose commitment to meeting social needs is unwavering, and they hit the streets: caring for the homeless, feeding the hungry, protesting at the abortion mill, but having (perhaps) too little concern for personal holiness, and very little regard for the absolute centrality of the gospel. Devotion to God has been replaced with devotion to cause.

James tells us it should not be so. Visit widows and orphans and keep yourself unstained from the world. We must not become so “spiritual” in our Christian life that we forget about meeting physical needs, and we must not become so “worldly” in meeting those needs that we lose sight of God’s ultimate design. Or, to say it in specifically “pro-life” terms, we must not become so “spiritual” in our Christian life that we write off the daily slaughter of 4,000 innocent human beings as a political issue (beyond our jurisdiction), and we must not become so “worldly” in intervening for them that we lose sight of the bigger picture (reconciling people to Christ through holiness and love). This balance is the essence of pure and undefiled religion.

Obama wants education for all children, but not life for each child February 19, 2008

I don’t think I need to spend a significant amount of time informing readers that one of the democratic presidential candidates, Barack Obama, has voted against the federal government’s partial-birth abortion ban.

The evidence is clear based on the Illinois senator’s voting record as well as statements he has made concerning the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the ban, which prevents pregnant women from aborting their babies in the second and third trimester (the fifth and sixth months of pregnancy.) The procedure typically occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Here is Obama’s statement after the Supreme Court’s ruling in case you missed it:

“I strongly disagree with today’s Supreme Court ruling, which dramatically departs from previous precedents safeguarding the health of pregnant women. As Justice Ginsburg emphasized in her dissenting opinion, this ruling signals an alarming willingness on the part of the conservative majority to disregard its prior rulings respecting a woman’s medical concerns and the very personal decisions between a doctor and patient. I am extremely concerned that this ruling will embolden state legislatures to enact further measures to restrict a woman’s right to choose, and that the conservative Supreme Court justices will look for other opportunities to erode Roe v. Wade, which is established federal law and a matter of equal rights for women.”

Nice and fuzzy, I suppose. Obama wants to protect women’s health. Who doesn’t want to hear that? But interestingly enough, evidence among obstetricians and gynecologists, along with former Surgeon General Everett Koop, has shown that partial-birth abortions are not necessary to protect a mother’s health during the second and third trimesters.

In addition, the American Medical Association has stated that the procedure, in which a baby is partially delivered except for its head and is killed by a doctor who suctions out the baby’s brain from a hole in its head, is “generally not necessary for those purposes” which are protecting a mother’s health or life or for terminating a baby due to serious fetal anomalies (another bad reason for abortion.) The group goes on to say that “maternal health factors which demand termination of the pregnancy can be accommodated without sacrifice of the fetus.” Having a child of my own, I could not bear to look at the drawn images of a partial-birth abortion procedure more than once.

So, this is not news, right? You’re wondering why this is being brought up, perhaps again. Well, I was somewhat surprised by one of Obama’s campaign ads I saw on TV highlighting his plan for education, if elected as president. You can watch the ad here but I’ll include a key statement he made below:

The one thing I was able to get was a great education. We should give every child the same chances I had.

Again, another nice and fuzzy message. Children are our future so of course they deserve a “great education.” Do you know what other chance Obama had? He had the chance to live. He had the chance to be born. That was a good chance, for him, right?

How can someone defend the chance for a great education for children yet deny the chance for a baby to even become a young child worthy of an education? What about every child deserving a chance for LIFE? Is that not a good opportunity?

And how can a person sincerely and truthfully support a candidate who hypocritically advocates for partial-birth abortion, a disgusting and unethical procedure, while promotes equal educational opportunities for all children? Children who were once in the womb and made it out safely – thank God, I suppose.

I think a better question is how can a Christian support a candidate like this? I am a Christian and I can’t.

“I would never have an abortion but I support the right of others to choose.” February 19, 2008

This pro-abortion argument is truly flawed. Let me explain.

If you replace the word ‘abortion’ with another word or phrase of something that you would never do, it wouldn’t make much sense ethically, legally or morally to a number of people. Here are a few examples:

“I would never kill someone, but I support the right of others to choose.”

“I would never rape someone, but I support the right of others to choose.”

“I would never abuse a child, but I support the right of others to choose.”

“I would never enslave a person, but I support the right of others to choose.”

“I would never practice genocide, but I support the right of others to choose.”

So, what choice are you supporting? As Christians, we can’t stand behind this kind of argument and expect that God is pleased. Unborn babies represent the current defenseless population of our time that need to be defended.

Ironically, the right for a woman to choose an abortion prevents several others from their right to choose, according to Jean Staker Garton, author of Who Broke the Baby?:

- the right of fathers to choose to save their unborn children from destruction, a right denied by Supreme Court decision

- the right of taxpayers to choose not to fund the abortion procedure, as now required by many states

- the right of parents to be involved in an abortion decision made by a minor daughter

- the right of women to choose to be informed about the risks involved in an abortion and about the humanity of the unborn child, another right denied by the Supreme Court

- the right of hospitals to choose not to do abortions

- the right of unborn children to choose to live.

How hypocritical to say that it’s a woman’s right to choose when she has given no thought to another’s right to choose.

Why such outrage when newborns are thrown away but not when babies are aborted? February 15, 2008

A Houston-area woman has been arrested and charged with one count of injury to a child for delivering her baby 6 weeks early in a hospital bathroom and then throwing the newborn in a trash can.

The saddest part, according to reports, is that the baby has been determined brain dead. The complete story can be read here.

After I read the story, of course I felt sick, but I also scrolled through a few of the 245 comments. That’s a lot of comments, most of which express outrage and anger toward the mother. Understandable.

However, what is not understandable to me is how people can express such hostility toward a mother for discarding her infant’s life and yet not even bat an eye when a woman aborts her baby at any stage of its development. Is it not the same thing?

Yes, the baby in this story was born 6 weeks early so we can assume he is about 34 weeks along in the womb (my son was born 3 weeks early and he was very ready to go) so the baby was quite developed. But at one point he had only been developing for 4 weeks, at which time his organs were forming and he was the size of a poppy seed (how itsy bitsy!!). At 6 weeks the baby has a heartbeat which beats twice as fast as an adult’s.

At 10 weeks (almost 3 months along) in the womb, the baby is about an inch long, has eyelids, hands, feet and is clearly ‘human’ even though a woman can feel nothing actually moving. It’s at this time that most women know for certain they are pregnant due to many symptoms but often wait to tell others because the first 3 months are the most critical time of a baby’s development.

The second trimester is the fun time, when the baby starts to move a bit, you find out if your little bump is a boy or girl, and when you get over yucky sickness. By the third trimester, you’re just wondering how labor will be, which side to sleep on and if the baby will ever let you eat another piece of pizza again.

D-Day arrives and you’re ready. This life that has been forming in your belly from day one is about to surprise you with a range of emotions from joy to sadness. But it is the beginning of a wonderful and exciting life together.

Or so it should’ve been for the woman who dumped her baby in the trash can. Or for the woman who aborted her baby. The situations are the same – utter disrespect for human life, life that God has created, life that God has lovingly blessed us with.

But there is forgiveness with God for those who seek it.

50 million abortions and counting… January 22, 2008

On this the 35th anniversary of the Roe. v Wade decision, pro-lifers march in support of the unborn and pro-choicers speak out in support of the “woman’s right to choose.” What has happened over the last 35 years? How about 50 million babies who were killed. I read a good column about this outrageous number and how our grief over these senseless deaths should be expressed.

Even though statistics show that abortions are decreasing (a good thing in light of the situation, I suppose), abortions still remain the No. 1 way to postpone parenting and having children. After working with women and teens facing a crisis pregnancy at pregnancy care centers (unplanned and unintended in their eyes) and having my own child, I can understand the anxiety of being pregnant. It’s the complete and utter definition of “the unknown.”

You have no idea what will happen during your pregnancy, you have no idea how you will take care of this baby, you have no idea what kind of mother you will be, you have no idea how you will afford this baby, you have no idea how this baby will change your life. Now, that is scary.

But you also will never know how any of these questions and mysteries can turn into utter joy if you squelch the opportunity to allow yourself to be loved by this little one by aborting your baby. You have no idea how your situation can be turned around, how you can prove to be stronger than you thought, how your life can become something focused on someone else rather than yourself.

It’s no lie that life with a child is difficult, stressful and demanding. And many parents journey through parenthood without God and without a saving relationship with Christ (which is the real mystery to me). But even in through the troubling times and the sacrifices made for another, you will learn more than you ever knew about yourself and about your child. And in doing that, I believe God will show you more and more of Himself and soften your heart to believe. Or, if you do believe, provide you with the grace needed to rely on Him daily.

Give your child a chance, give yourself a chance and most of all give God a chance to use your life, your situation for something good. You have no idea how a seemingly hopeless situation can be turned into a glorious story of hope, love and triumph. Stop the 50-million statistic in its place and start counting down. Because there is a little someone who is counting on you and only you.

Are animals more important than human babies? July 30, 2007

After I heard that Nike and Reebok suspended sales of Michael Vick’s merchandise, I began to wonder about the purpose behind the move. Officials with both companies have reportedly said they are concerned with the allegations of animal cruelty brought against the Atlanta Falcons quarterback. They obviously don’t like the fact that he is charged with dog fighting and perhaps is even responsible for the deaths of dogs that didn’t fare so well in test fights. I suppose he had nothing better to do with his time.

I understand that treating animals inhumanely is just plain wrong and am glad that these businesses have made a smart move to disassociate themselves with Vick for the time being. But why aren’t similar public outcries made for aborted babies? Perhaps the situation is too distant to compare, but aren’t animals only animals? Aborted babies could have one day been adults but their life was cut short. Aren’t humans more important than animals?

Before anyone even says that a fetus isn’t a baby, please just agree that if allowed, that fetus would develop into a full-term baby and then a child and then an adult. That is the process that begins with pro-creation. I do believe that life begins at conception – the Bible is quite clear on that (check out Psalm 139). So, why are Christians, church leaders, Christian business leaders, etc. not more vocal about abortion? Is it because we believe we can’t do much about it? Do we believe we can’t make a change? Or is it not worth it? Is it not our problem?

If God cares for the helpless and defenseless, I believe we are called to care for the helpless and defenseless. Here’s one way to help the helpless that is probably pretty radical for most of us. Thanks to a HT from fellow blogger, The World Around Us, Life Decisions International has posted a list of businesses and companies that support Planned Parenthood (and therefore support abortion.) Would you be willing to suspend your support of these companies to show your support for the unborn? Do you think you could do something similar to what Nike and Reebok have done in response to a disturbing accusation against Vick for an even worse crime against babies?

As the president of Life Decisions International was quoted in the press release saying, “The pro-life movement will succeed only to the extent that pro-life people are willing to be inconvenienced.”

Are you willing?

Atlanta mom kicked off plane for not drugging child? No way! July 13, 2007

I saw this story about a young mother who was asked by a flight attendant to give “baby Benadryl” to her 19-month-old son so he would stop saying “bye, bye plane.” Uh, what? According to the report, the kid wasn’t even screaming! Yet, his continuous chatter didn’t annoy the passengers, only the “stewardess” (which, ironically, is defined as someone responsible for passengers’ comfort and safety.)

Do you think that perhaps our children grow up to have issues, commit crimes, engage in immoral behavior, etc. because adults treat them like they are unworthy or lack value? Well, this is most obvious in the case of abortion and the millions of babies that have been killed but that’s a separate post. Children are an interference, a hindrance, right?  We must hand them over to someone else to train and rear?

What are adults thinking? Sometimes I think adults act more like children than the children do. But, I suppose, adults revert back to childhood behavior as they get older anyways (limited mental stability, inability to care for themselves, babble, etc.) I suppose this is why our older generation is often forgotten as well – just unworthy and unwanted.

I can only imagine the press this woman would have received if she did drug the child just to keep him quiet…perhaps she would be cited for parental negligence or even abuse.

Can the real adults please stand up?

Behold, children are a gift of the LORD; The fruit of the womb is a reward. Psalm 127:3

the right to choose is a bunch of hogwash July 11, 2007

If I had to associate with a political affiliation, it would most likely be Republican. I voted for Bush in the last presidential election and wonder who I will vote for in 2008. The one person I know I won’t vote for is Rudy Giuliani, despite his leadership and strength in unifying New York City after 9/11. My main beef? His stance on abortion.

As a pro-life Christian (is there any other kind of Christian?), I cannot support someone who says that abortion is wrong but believes in a woman’s right to choose whether she should kill her baby. According to this Web site, Giuliani has called a woman’s right to choose one of his “core beliefs” yet he says he “hates” abortion.

Well, I hate murder but I support your right to choose whether you should murder me. I hate stealing but I support your right to choose whether you should rob me. I hate rape but I support your right to choose whether you should rape me. The argument is completely flawed and a cop out.

Please, Giuliani, for the sake of the voters and those wondering what you really believe, choose one side.

As for Christians who share Giuliani’s sentiments, why don’t you agree with abortion yourself but would allow another person the freedom to choose the life-ending procedure? Is it because abortion is wrong or unsafe? Why would you want another person to experience the devastation that results from it? Ask almost any woman who has had an abortion – there is very little freedom experienced after the procedure has done its damage. Instead, abortion takes away the freedom of many.

I believe one reason people choose the stance of “not for me but OK for you” is because it places less responsibility on individuals for the senseless murders of millions of unborn babies. As Jean Staker Garton wrote in her book, “Who Broke the Baby?”,

When we tolerate abortion-on-demand on the grounds of “freedom to choose,” we in effect approve the right of each individual to impose his or her morality on the most defenseless members of the human family. Abortion, for all practical purposes, becomes another distant, disconnected event for which we take no personal responsibility.

Christians have only one choice when it comes to abortion and that is to choose life. As God has stated in His Word:

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death , the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him. Deuteronomy 30:19-20