Perspective...

[HT: True Grit]

15 Pro-Life Truths to Speak

by John Piper
[original article]

"You will know the truth and the truth will set you free." - Jesus Christ

1. Existing fetal homicide laws make a man guilty of manslaughter if he kills the baby in a mother's womb (except in the case of abortion).

2. Fetal surgery is performed on babies in the womb to save them while another child the same age is being legally destroyed.

3. Babies can sometimes survive on their own at 23 or 24 weeks, but abortion is legal beyond this limit.

4. Living on its own is not the criterion of human personhood, as we know from the use of respirators and dialysis.

5. Size is irrelevant to human personhood, as we know from the difference between a one-week-old and a six-year-old.

6. Developed reasoning powers are not the criterion of personhood, as we know from the capacities of three-month-old babies.

7. Infants in the womb are human beings scientifically by virtue of their genetic make up.

8. Ultrasound has given a stunning window on the womb that shows the unborn at eight weeks sucking his thumb, recoiling from pricking, responding to sound. All the organs are present, the brain is functioning, the heart is pumping, the liver is making blood cells, the kidneys are cleaning fluids, and there is a fingerprint. Virtually all abortions happen later than this date.

9. Justice dictates that when two legitimate rights conflict, the limitation of rights that does the least harm is the most just. Bearing a child for adoption does less harm than killing him.

10. Justice dictates that when either of two people must be inconvenienced or hurt to alleviate their united predicament, the one who bore the greater responsibility for the predicament should bear more of the inconvenience or hurt to alleviate it.

11. Justice dictates that a person may not coerce harm on another person by threatening voluntary harm on themselves.

12. The outcast and the disadvantaged and exploited are to be cared for in a special way, especially those with no voice of their own.

13. What is happening in the womb is the unique person-nurturing work of God, who alone has the right to give and take life.

14. There are countless clinics that offer life and hope to both mother and child (and father and parents), with care of every kind lovingly provided by people who will meet every need they can.

15.Jesus Christ can forgive all sins, and will give all who trusts him the help they need to do everything that life requires.

Humility

During this next quarter I am requiring my 9th/10th Bible class read one book. I have a list of choices for them, but I am willing to allow others. It can't be a story, it has to be a "teaching" book.

So, I decided to join them in this endeavor. The book that I am going to be reading is called Humility and it is by Andrew Murray. I am pretty excited about reading this book because it is a classic, and I love classics.

I opened up the book today and already found a great quote:

The chief mark of counterfeit holiness is its lack of humility.

I will give you some updates as I read this book.

RefTagger

Special thanks to a former student for sending me to RefTagger.

With RefTagger I can type in a scripture reference, like John 3:16 for example, and it will automatically add a hyper link and it will even add a hover window of the scripture's text. (Is that what you call it? A "hover window"?)

Check it out.

Losing Again

I joined the "Biggest Loser" competition at our school. I am not sure how many people are competing, but there are a few moms, a dad, and some of the other teachers. Along with the dad, I am the only other male competitor.

I had been dieting before Christmas Break, but I fell dove off that boat during the holiday. It is really hard to diet on Christmas Break!

Well, now I am back on.

Our first weigh-in was Friday, January 16th. I weighed in heavier than I have ever weighed. I was at 201.4 lbs.!! Last week I weighed in at 196.2 lbs. That means in the first week I lost 5.2 lbs.! And I think that I was the biggest loser of the week! I am feeling pretty good about that.

But, can I keep it up for 13 weeks?

The most difficult thing for me is that I just genuinely love food. Eating is one of my most favorite things to do. So, this is really, really hard. Choosing to eat less and to eat the right kinds of things is a real practice of self-discipline.

Well, I will try to keep you posted on my progress.

...as discipline

"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"
Hebrews 12:7

I ran across this verse last night. It was just what I needed.

Validation

Everybody could use a little validation. I wish I could remember which blog I saw this on... I would give them credit.