I’ve felt so broken and disappointed in the last few days. The health care bill and the Executive Order is absurd. I know that many people feel this way as well. And in my prayers, there are two themes that have been running through my heart and mind continuously. They are the themes of faith and martyrdom. For some reason, I feel the need to write about it. Perhaps I need to process my thoughts. I hope you enjoy this stream of consciousness.
MARTYRDOM
Martyrdom is often a gift from God. It is the will of God (Phil 1:29). And at times when good men cave into dark schemes, I am pressed in my heart to have a power that can only come from heaven. Stupak failed, but he tried. How many times have I tried and failed? How many assignments from heaven have I received and not followed through? Stupak failed, but maybe I am not as pro-life as I’d like to be either. I wonder if it is the Church’s fault that Stupak and his colleagues were not filled to the brim with heavenly wisdom and power to stand against evil schemes. No man can naturally stand under the pressure that he probably went through.
Therefore, I take to heart Paul’s command to Timothy: “… do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God” (1 Tim 1:8). I do not want to be ashamed of the Christian’s calling to martyrdom nor of those who are openly committed to the Lord at all costs.
I openly tell my friends that Lou Engle is one of my heroes. Praise the Lord for James Dobson. They are faithful men and true role models for the kind of person I want to become.
I am pro-life all the way. And I pray that I would have the supernatural courage to go to prison and even die for my belief in Jesus and His word.
My wife and I talked about what we would do if we ended up in jail for our beliefs with no one to take care of our 7-month old daughter. It was a hard swallow. But that night I surrendered myself to death at the cross again and I said, “Jesus, help me say ‘Yes’ to You if that ever happens.” Although it’s hard on my heart, I believe the greatest gift I can give my daughter is a heritage of martyrdom – even if I have to miss her growing up.
Why have I said all of this? The government has obligated us to buy health care. Who knows what kind of liberties will be taken from us next… I want to be free from compromise and say YES! to Jesus no matter what.
FAITH
But the fight is not over!!! The Lord raised up David out of nowhere, and in just a few moments Goliath died! Israel was under terrible taunting and shame for forty days, and suddenly a boy anointed by the Lord destroyed the mocking giant. Israel became bold in a second and rushed forward to win the battle (1 Sam 17).
We are now under a season of shame, oppression, and taunting from the enemy. But the Lord is merciful. And He hears prayer. He hasn’t said anything about it being over yet.
So demons beware!!!! He likes me. He loves me, and He likes to answer my prayers.
you already pay for pro-choice related policies through your tax dollars.
Planned Parenthood receives about a third of its money in government grants and contracts ($349.6 million in FY 2008). In the 2007–08 Annual Report, clinic income totaled $374.7 million and miscellaneous operating revenues $68.9 million. Planned Parenthood is also heavily sponsored by private individuals, with over 700,000 active individual contributors.[7] Large donors such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation contribute a substantial part of the organization’s budget.[8] Pro-life groups have long advocated the boycott of these private organizations.
read a few articles about the debate, this new law is about way more than paying for abortions with federal funds. Your focus is too fixated on something that is .00001% of the healthcare debate. Plus you already (unintentionally pay for abortions)
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/johncassidy/2010/03/obamacare-by-the-numbers-part-1.html
this is a better/broader and more informative reason for why the new law is a failure.
By: an open mind on March 25, 2010
at 1:49 am
Thank you for your comment. I apologize for taking so long to approve and reply.
Yes, I do understand that our dollars already pay for abortions. However, federal funding of abortion is by no means a non-issue. If it was, Democrats would have had no problem adding language to the health care bill that would’ve prevented federal funding of abortion. The Democrats want to expand abortion as a way to offset future growing costs of health care.
Many Democrats believe that it’s better to have those babies die than to have them grow up, commit crimes and end up in jail costing taxpayers tons of money. The problem with that is that any culture that chooses the death of some for the financial benefits of others is in a very slippery slope. Germany practiced euthanasia on terminally ill and mentally retarded patients before WWII and the Holocaust. Euthanasia opened the door for unprecedented darkness. Death is never satisfied, and we have no idea how deep a society can slip once death’s grasp is freely unleashed.
Federal funding of abortion will expand the services of Planned Parenthood, which targets minorities, and we will grow to be an intolerant and violent nation unless life, rather than money, is celebrated.
This new law is a failure for many reasons, but the primary reason is that it promotes death instead of health and life.
By: E on March 31, 2010
at 10:23 pm