She Chose Death

Originally posted in May, 2010

Never underestimate the value, purpose, and potential of a life.

Last week I read a gut wrenching blog over at Conspiracy of Hope. It was about the Nazi's Action T4, which was a government created euthanasia of people with special needs and disabilities. To gain support for this program, the Nazis placed a price on life. For each of these lives terminated, the government would save X amount of money. And it worked: over 200,000 were killed.

Reading this sickened me. Going to work each day and being surrounded by these precious lives makes is so personal. Their lives are priceless. How could anyone not recognize this? But, of course, that was the Nazis, and we all know how horrible they were, right?

But then, the same day, I was reading the local newspaper. There was a letter to the editor. I don't remember the title, but it caught my eye. And before I knew it I sat there frozen: Frozen with anger, shock, and fear.

A man wrote in about abortion, and to my horror, he summed up his letter by saying that abortion saves the government X amount of money for each life it takes (assuming most of them would be supported by welfare). And guess what? He wasn't a Nazi. He was an American (I won't assume his political party). And according to an earlier statement in his letter, he was a Christian.

Does anyone else feel the overwhelming need to throw up right now?

I know there is so much controversy about abortion, even in the church. But guess what else I know?

God does not create life on accident.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Psalm 139:13-16

A life is a life. Whether unborn or born, physically disabled or physical perfection, delayed or genius, it is life. And no one can put a price on that.

He creates each child with care, and entrusts them to grow inside a carefully selected woman. He knows each one of his children intimately, and he knows all the wonderful ways this mother and child can learn from each other.

The role of a mother, most would agree, is the most influential role that exists. They are entrusted to love and nurture and grow this beautiful life. I am sure in some circumstances this can be painful, and this can be scary. But instead of supporting them and encouraging them and allowing them to be moved and changed by the child, either for nine months or a lifetime, we offer them a way out.

The problem with this? The problem is the one who has been entrusted to nurture this life has been given a choice, and instead of nourishment there is destruction. And society says it is okay. And sometimes society even says it is good.

It is death.

But because we will never be given a chance to hear so many voices and see so many faces, it makes it so easy for society to justify. That is until we get to heaven.

And I imagine at that time someone will ask God why he allowed people to suffer with AIDS and cancer and so many other diseases. Why was there no cure for these things? Why did he allow so much evil and murder in the world?

And at that time God will bring forward some of these priceless lives, and some of the voices that never had a chance to be heard on earth. And they will each have a name. And they will each have a voice.

And God will call one forward by name and the child will say, "My name is Simon. In my life I would have found the cure for cancer. But my mother was given a choice."

Then he will bring forward another face and she will say, "I am Ruth. I was created with a love for the broken and a courageous heart. I would have led many dictators to the Lord, and the lives of many would have been spared. But my mother was given a choice."

Then another, and he will say, "I am Paul. I hold the cure for AIDS. But my mother was given a choice."

Then another, and another, and another, and they will all say, "But my mother was given a choice...."

And she chose death.

The Rains Came Down and the Floods Came Up

This summer there has been so much damage caused by flooding. When storms rage in impoverished nations where buildings are weak and homes are temporary structures, the devastation is often massive. Please keep the following countries in prayer as they have recently or are currently being faced with massive flooding.

In June and July 100 lives were lost and hundreds of thousands left homeless due to flash floods and landslides in Bangladesh. 

Source

In early August the Philippines were hit hard with monsoon weather and flooding, claiming at least 60 lives and destroying thousands of homes. 

Source

Niger, the country worst hit by the West Africa food crisis, has faced relentless flooding in the last week as the banks of the Niger River have overflowed, displacing 200,000 people, killing livestock, and destroying precious crops.

Source

Most recently, Tropical Storm Isaac hit Haiti hard yesterday, where hundreds of thousands are still living in tent cities after the 2010 earthquake. The storm has taken at least seven lives, and has brought more destruction to a nation so desperately trying to rebuild.

Source
For more photos of flooding in Haiti visit Mark at Conspiracy of Hope.

Tropical Storm Isaac also hit Cuba, and is now threatening parts of the U.S. (mainly Florida and Louisiana).

As you walk on dry ground today, please say a prayer for all those affected by the floods.

Cracking Open Steel Doors

Many of you who have been around here for awhile know that I really have a heart for the persecuted church. From researching more about the persecuted church, I have learned that the number one country where it is the hardest to be a Christian, and the hardest to share the gospel, is North Korea.

Even apart from religion, North Koreans are a very controlled, manipulated, and stifled people. God broke my heart for this country last year when I attended a Voice of the Martyrs conference and was able to hear more inside information about what goes on inside the country's borders. If you would like to read some basic information about North Korea, its religion, leadership, and the persecution of Christians, I wrote a post about it here.

Having said all this, I write this to say that today it was announced that Kim Jong-il died on Saturday from a heart attack.

Kim Jong-il has been the leader of North Korea since his father passed away in 1994, and continued in the example of his father's strong hand over the people. You can read more about his death here.

I wanted to share this with you all, because this is a big deal. Kim Jong-il chose his third son, Kim Jong-un, to be his successor. His son has been raised with the same ideals as his father, and his father before him. But with the change of leadership, I ask that we, as the church, pray. Pray for this new leader's heart. That it will be softened for his people, and that it would be opened to new ideas, and ultimately the love of Christ.

So many dictators and communist leaders have been removed and/or died recently, and in a way I feel like the doors of hope and opportunity are being cracked open. We can't physically go and break down the heavy steel doors of corruption and oppression in these places, but we can join the battle spiritually.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Ephesians 6:12-13

So, my friends, let's pray.

Why Diamonds are NOT This Girl's Best Friend

Diamonds.

They are rocks.

Rocks that men use to swoon their women.

Rocks that women use to flaunt their wealth, or their man's wealth.

Diamonds hypnotize the masses and delude the hoards into believing they add some kind of value or meaning to their life, therefore convincing them to pay ridiculous prices for appearances.

But the biggest price, the real price, is paid by the innocent. The innocent whose only crime is being born in a place where diamonds are found. The innocent who are forced to work in the diamond fields under horribly violent conditions, for no other pay than being allowed to live.

And sometimes they are not even given that.

Diamonds have fueled injustice throughout the world from the funding of corrupt causes, to exploiting the weak, to in itself creating conflicts. In 2000 there was a great awakening to the human rights issues surrounding diamonds, and as a result the Kimberley Process was created and in 2003 began regulating diamond production and trade.

In the last eight years the Kimberley Process has done much to prevent human rights violations due to the diamond trade, but the process has in no way vanquished the problem. Smuggling is still a problem, as well injustice slipping through the cracks. And in the end, the Kimberley Process has little control over how the  funds a country recieves from its diamonds are distributed.

Yesterday another leak in the system was revealed, as the Marange Fields in Zimbabwe recieved approval through the Kimberley Process for their diamonds to be exported and sold in major markets throughout the world.

Zimbabwe estimates 2 billion dollars in revenue from these diamond fields, which will surely create even greater disparity between the abundant wealth of Mugabe and his loyalists and the majority~ a severely impoverished population.

In addition to this, approval of diamonds mined in the Marange Fields for international trade is a scandal in itself. Reports say that the approval of Zimbabwe diamonds was a "compromise" to end a deadlocked vote. The US "compromised" by abstaining their vote. Morally they (we) knew that the reports made by several human rights groups condemning the brutality and violence used in the mining of these fields were true. So in good conscience we couldn't vote for the approval, so we compromised our opportunity to stand up for the powerless and chose silence instead.

But what it really comes down to is that we have compromised human rights to make women around the world look pretty.

We have compromised integrity to fill the wallets of the greedy.

And we have compromised the lives of many ...for mere rocks.  

Diamonds are only as valuable as we make them my friends. So ask yourself, is that rock worth someone's life?

What Hate Can Do

It saddens me that there are people in this world that are so corrupted by darkness and hate that they make us forget our humanity. 

Their hate and evilness clings to us and burrows through our flesh and into our hearts, until we, in turn, begin to hate them. And we hate them so much  that as they die we beat them and spit in their face. While being dragged through the streets covered with blood, dead or soon to be, we celebrate.

I wonder how long it will take us to realize that we have become like them.

Pop a Squat

I'm sorry for the lack of depth my posts have had lately, but I have spent the last day catching up on life and the internet, and this is one of those things that just needs to be said.

Since when is squatting cool?

Incase you haven't seen this yet, the new "thing to do" is owling.

Basically owling is squatting and posing like an owl, and posting the pictures online. The sillier places you squat, the "cooler" you are.

This is a real thing people. I read about it in the Washington Post for crying outloud. It is the new planking, which I didn't understand either, but this is getting out of control.

I am all for doing crazy weird things, but I am 97% sure that there is a person whose goal in life is to make people look as stupid as possible, and thus came up with a way to get them to squat in public for no apparently good reason.

Source

Should this photo be called

Owling

or

How to Use a Squatty Potty

???

I just don't get it. If you do, please explain. Maybe everyone is losing their mind. Maybe people spend so much time in front of the computer that they don't know there are actual fun and cool things to do in the world. Or maybe I'm just getting old.

I should stop there, but with all that said, I must say that for some unexplainable reason, I think this guy is cool.

Source

Maybe he started it all and everyone wants to be like him. I don't know. I'm just so confused.

A Nation is Born

As these words post, the clock turns midnight in Sudan, and the date changes to July 9, 2011. A date that will leave a hopeful mark in history; a day that brings wonderful freedom to many for whom it is long overdue.

Today we celebrate the birth of a beautiful new nation. The birthing pangs have been long, and much has been sacrificed. But today is the day of new beginnings, new hope, new life, and new freedom.

Along with being the world's youngest nation, it is also born as the world's poorest nation, with a GDP per capita of only $90. The bumpy and rough roads of this land are likely representative of the journey that lies ahead for the people.

But at this very moment beauty and love are taking root here;

in this country that through pictures and stories has captured my heart.




Source


If you dare to be vulnerable to the ways God is moving, if you are willing to have your heart broken for these things that break the heart of God, you can catch a glimpse of them From the Unpaved Road and Called 2 Follow.

Will you join me in wishing South Sudan a very happy birthday? Your love and prayers would be a wonderful gift.

A Picture of Humility

If you do a quick internet search of the words "Christian," "Muslim," and "Egypt," you will find story upon story of persecution, specifically that of Christians. Google will suggest words such as "clash" or "tension" to assist your search.

This knowledge only makes the following photograph more beautiful:

Christians creating a protective barrier around praying Muslims in Egypt

The situation in Egypt right now is rough, to say the least. People have become desperate for change, and are willing to sacrifice to make that change a reality.

You could say that this picture portrays unity and hope for the country. But to me it reveals the humility of Christ, and how we, as Christians, are to be an example of that humility.

Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them.

Romans 12:14

Robbed.

So, is Oprah on the selection committee for the Nobel Peace Prize or what? Really, lets give Barak Obama the time to actually accomplish one of the promises he's made before we award him such a highly esteemed prize.

Not saying President Obama is or isn't going to eventually be deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize, but lets look at who is deserving of it NOW. There are numbers of people who have committed their lives to promoting peace, and who have risked EVERYTHING.

For example, Greg Mortenson has committed his life to building schools and providing education to all, including girls, in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Then, there is Sima Samar, who overcame the odds as a Hazara and a woman, to become a doctor and a powerful advocate in Afghanistan for human rights.

And of course, my favorite choice would be Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe's Prime Minister. He has overcome imprisonments, beatings, the death of his wife, and a lifetime of persecution to fight for the rights of the people of Zimbabwe.

There are so many deserving people who were robbed of this prize, and robbed of the money award that would have, no doubt, been used to further the good that they have actually done and continue to do.

Persecution

Over the weekend 8 Christians were martyred in Pakistan. Six were burned alive, and two were shot. Simply for proclaiming the name of Christ.

Here in America, where our idea of persecution is being rejected or mocked at worst, we not only take for granted our freedom to call ourselves Christians, but we often hide behind the label. Somewhere along the way what it means to be a follower of Christ has been watered down to living in comfortable homes and driving comfortable cars and sitting in a comfortable pew on Sundays. We forget to be grateful for clean water, food, shelter, education, freedom of religion, and ultimately the grace that has undeservably been lavished on us. We forget about our brothers and sisters in Christ that are living out their faith, and ultimately dying for their faith.

In a time where more Christians are being martyred than ever before, I ask that you would remember what it really means to be a follower of Christ, and remember those who are suffering for His name. In our comfort it has become too easy to block out the outside world. When we do this we are disabling the body of Christ. We each have an important responsibility in the body, and as we all know the body works best when the parts work together. As a country with so many resources, we have the capability to be a mobilizing force, but instead it seems as though we have become paralyzing.

I ask that you take the time to examine your own life and question what you are contributing to the body of Christ. And while your at it, pray for our brothers and sisters who are acting as the hands and feet.

A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold...

I recently read a news article about Desmond Tutu and his cry for Zimbabwe. For the last few months I have been less active in bringing awareness to the issues going on in a country I so dearly love. I guess I feel like I am making little difference, and that people are getting tired of me pushing the issues. I now feel conviction for not doing all I can do for a country for which God has given me a burning compassion.

Currently Mugabe still holds on to power as tightly as possible. As of yesterday the inflation rate was 231 million percent. A loaf of bread, if you can find it, costs about 25 billion Zimbabwe dollars. This amount is several days wages for the mere 18%of the population that is employed. Cholera has claimed well over 2,000 lives, and the W.H.O. estimates the actual numbers to be much higher, seeing as hospitals are unstaffed so many deaths are going unreported. The outbreak continues to spread steadily. These are just a few of the major concerns plaguing the country.

If you have read this information it is yours to do with as God directs you, but I would encourage you today to prayerfully consider joining Desmond Tutu and myself in weekly fasting and prayer for the nation of Zimbabwe. These are our brothers and sisters who are suffering. Please remember them in this time of desperation.

Shalom,
Rebecca