Shining The Light

I love reading, and especially anything that relates to history.  So when I heard the movie, Lincoln, was going to be released into theaters, I high-tailed it to my favorite book store to pick up a biography on President Lincoln. But wow, there are a ton of books written on our 16^th president. Hmm, which one is the best one?  I queried some people in the know about such things and I was told… Team of Rivals. (And coincidentally, the basis for the Lincoln movie.)

It was fun to learn more personal details about this man, and to be reminded why he was considered one of our greatest presidents. His determination to keep the Union together, and his solid belief in the sentiments from our Declaration, “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness …” are what drove him to endure those horrible years of war. He led this country, along with others in his party, in the fight against the unjust treatment of fellow human beings, and he paid a heavy price for his stance.

As I read about the slavery issue and the events leading to the Civil War, I couldn’t keep the thought of abortion out of my mind. The disregard for the humanity of the black person is comparable to the way we regard the baby in the womb today.  The South was blinded by their convictions that they were within their rights to choose to enslave the black person, and there was nothing morally wrong with slavery in their eyes. This thought process is exactly what we see today in the treatment of the pre-born.

The pre-born innocents are discriminated against and their lives are in danger because some don’t consider abortion a moral wrong, they don’t consider pre-born babies equal, nor do they consider them to have a right to life. If Lincoln were here now, would he have taken the Founder’s words to mean that children in the womb have a right to protection because of the fundamental nature of being human?

These little humans in the womb– our children, our grandchildren, our nieces and nephews, are being judged as non-entities with no rights because of their size and location, and yet their humanity started when one human’s sperm met one human’s egg. It doesn’t matter how small, what location, what color, how frail, they are, because as humans,… “they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights. And that is what Lincoln based his disgust with slavery on, that humans have rights that are decided on by someone higher than ourselves…our Creator.

Consider the following statements from the Lincoln book in view of abortion and the smallest of human beings.

Lincoln—“The founders did not, declare all men equal in all respects. They did not mean to say all were equal in color, size, intellect, moral developments, or social capacity.” But they did declare all men “equal in certain unalienable rights among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Lincoln—“The difference between the Republican and the Democratic parties on the leading issue of this contest is that the former consider slavery a moral, social and political wrong, while the latter do not consider it either a moral, social or political wrong…”

Chief Justice Taney—Regarding blacks, “so far inferior that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect.”

Frederick Douglas—“Judge Taney can do many things, but he cannot…change the essential nature of things—making evil good and good evil.”

Lincoln—“If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong…”

Lincoln—“(The South)…has eyes but does not see, ears but does not hear.”

We can so vividly see why slavery had to be stopped. Can we not see that abortion has to end?  When we are killing our own children with impunity, we have legalized an evil. But even if abortion is legal, as Frederick Douglas states, we “cannot change the essential nature of things…making evil good and good evil.”

As slavery had to be stopped, so must abortion. I believe President Lincoln’s words to be as true of abortion today, as of slavery then…if abortion is not wrong, nothing is wrong.

October Baby – In Theaters Now.

A well-done, well-acted movie about forgiveness, love and Life.  You won’t want to miss this one. It’s engaging, never boring and gets your heart and mind thinking about forgiving those who have hurt you, and perhaps like the main character in this movie…forgiving even those who are out to do incredible harm to you. If you miss it in the theaters, you’ll want to head to Redbox as soon as it is released on video.

Have you ever been pressured to make a decision that doesn’t coincide with your values and morals? It’s not a good feeling. And when a young girl is coerced by parents, a boyfriend, or others, into making a decision to have an abortion, she may feel she has to go through with it. Their support is vital. But according to the lawyers at The Justice Foundation, those who coerce could be in legal hot water.

 The following statement comes from the Justice Foundation’s, “Letter to Client,” which can be used by Pregnancy Resource Centers to hand out to their pregnant minor clients.

 “It is unlawful for your parents, relatives, or boyfriend to unduly pressure, force, or coerce you into having an abortion. In fact, to do so could subject them to potential criminal charges of child abuse or fetal homicide (killing a baby while still in the womb). The United States Supreme Court makes it clear that an abortion decision by a minor must be her decision; that it must be free, independent, voluntary, and non-coerced. No one can legally force you to have an abortion.”

Many young women have been coerced, cajoled, and threatened into aborting a baby who is too inconvenient for someone else. This threat doesn’t have to come in the form of physical harm. The Justice Foundation gives the following as examples coercion or force:

“If you have this baby, I am kicking you out of my house”,

or

“You are my child and you will do what I say.”

(“Your parents do not have to support your child financially; however, they are legally obligated to continue to support you, a minor.”)

 It may not feel like it right now, but your future well-being could depend on your decision regarding an unplanned pregnancy. If you are being pushed into a decision to abort against your will, seek help. Go to a person who wants what’s best for you, and your baby. Visit a pregnancy care center, or support group that is familiar with abortion issues. Also, feel free to contact us at: rvehon@gmail.com. or contact the Justice Foundation at: http://thejusticefoundation.org/cafa/.

Do you ever look at a decision someone made and think, “I would never have made that decision, that was not so smart.”? How many times have you questioned the judgment of the Umps with some of their bad decisions? You know your guy was safe! Or those people on Funniest Home Videos, Oh my gosh. Think before you start dancing drunk on the table!

Even if these people finally realize they’ve made a bad decision, they won’t be devastated at the thought of it. They won’t feel guilt and shame because of what they did. Their bad decisions won’t cause them to resort to alcohol or drugs or lead to depression.

The decision to take your baby’s life is a decision that will follow you the rest of your life. The pain can never be buried deep enough. And it will never be ok with God. Sure, some of us were relieved for awhile…the “problem” was gone and you got to go on with your life. But some how, God won’t let it go. He brings you back to your need to repent and seek forgiveness for your sin.

And that is where you can make the best decision of your life. Tell Jesus you are sorry and just watch the burden start to ease, the guilt subside and the shame diminish, until, over time, you feel the new you, totally forgiven and clean in the sight of God.

“If we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1: 9

I had the opportunity to read fourteen essays written by teenage Moms who have learned to make new choices and are finding out that life is sweeter than they ever expected.

These teens had chosen to indulge in behavior that looted their young lives of their innocence; they chose to engage in sexual relations. To no ones surprise, they were left with the consequences of their actions; each of them pregnant, unmarried, and facing an uncertain future.

But somehow, they were able to pull their thoughts together and make the difficult choice to keep their babies. The majority of them did not believe in abortion but they also could not give their babies up for adoption. So they made a choice. A choice that changed their lives and gave them something to live for besides their self-indulgences. They chose to be Moms.

With the help of their high school and others, they are finishing out their high school classes and will graduate on, or near, on time. They not only have a regular high school schedule, they also take parenting and life skills classes. These girls will be well prepared to handle their new role as “Mom” and have a great future to look forward to.

Each one of these girls cherishes the life she brought into this world and savors the moments she spends with her baby. These young ladies discovered what an amazing gift they were given when they chose life. One girl wrote, “I don’t know where I would be right now if I didn’t have him (her baby) in my life. Everything I do is for him.”

The life of a baby is a precious blessing. Choose a blessing.

 I didn’t know that I held an opinion that would alter my life.

 I didn’t know that I was pro-choice.

 I didn’t know until I chose abortion that I would one day suffer for that choice.

 I didn’t know that the blob was really my baby.

 I didn’t know that I would hurt to the depths of my soul.

 I didn’t know there were alternatives.

 I didn’t know that I didn’t have to make that deadly choice.

 I didn’t know that I could confess and be forgiven.

 I didn’t know that God is a compassionate and merciful God.

 I didn’t know that I could be joyful one day.

 I didn’t know.