Dear Deacon, The subject line in this message comes from my friend
Elizabeth McClung in Austin, Texas. Elizabeth has led many successful 40 Days for Life
campaigns in the most pro-abortion city in the Lone
Star State. This is one of several updates that again show the
tremendous power of a few humble souls gathered together
in prayer in front of the places where there is such
despair and destruction.
-------------------------------------------------------
AUSTIN, TEXAS
------------------------------------------------------- Elizabeth in Austin received what she describes as "a
very friendly courtesy call from the FBI." The agent
reported that Whole Woman's Health in Austin has made
several complaints about the peaceful presence of
40 Days for Life. Her reaction? "What a blessing!" She said the abortion center's complaint "is just the
type of confirmation that we always pray for. We now
know how much of an impact we are having on their clients,
their abortion numbers, and on their workers!" Elizabeth is also aware of four women who were scheduled
for abortions at that facility, but who changed their
minds during this 40 Days for Life campaign. "Thank God for the work He is doing inside of that
abortion clinic," she said. "Our presence is working!" To see photos of the peaceful 40 Days for Life vigil
in Austin, please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1831 
-------------------------------------------------------
OLD TOWN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
------------------------------------------------------- In the Old Town section of Chicago, the 40 Days for Life
vigil is going on outside a Planned Parenthood office.
And it seems the people inside aren’t real comfortable
with the volunteers peacefully praying outside. According to team leaders in Old Town, "Planned
Parenthood posted a sign on the outside of their
building claiming that photography or audio/video
recording at their facility would be punishable by a
$25,000 fine or 1-5 years in jail." "After consulting with an attorney from the Thomas More
Society Pro-Life Law Center and the police, we have
decided that this sign is largely groundless," said one
of the coordinators. "We will continue to film our
valiant vigil participants as we see fit." And they did! To see photos of 40 Days for Life vigil
participants in Old Town Chicago, please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1831 
-------------------------------------------------------
BRYAN/COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
------------------------------------------------------- Planned Parenthood tries to present itself as the only
place in town women can go for low-cost health care.
That simply isn't correct. And the 40 Days for Life
team in Bryan/College Station has been giving women the
real facts on the sidewalk outside Planned Parenthood. When a woman brought her granddaughter in for a
check-up, a counselor told her there's no doctor at
Planned Parenthood, and there were other places to go
that did not offer abortions. Another young woman wanted a pregnancy test. She was
guided to the Coalition for Life, where she could get
the test at no cost -- and would NOT be pressured into
an abortion. Finally, counselors were able to refer a third young
woman to another provider for routine care -- she hadn't
known of any alternatives. "You know, I've never felt entirely comfortable coming
here," she said, "and now I have somewhere else to go!"
Today's devotional is from Rev. J. Kirk van der
Swaagh of the Conservative Congregational Christian
Conference.
------------------------------------------------------
DAY 21 INTENTION
------------------------------------------------------ We pray for the conversion of all those who refuse to
acknowledge that human life belongs only to God.
------------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
------------------------------------------------------ Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: "Before
I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were
born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to
the nations." -- Jeremiah 1:4-5
------------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Rev. J. Kirk van der Swaagh
------------------------------------------------------ To be or not to be? There is no question! The question of "being" is something philosophers
have long pondered. What is the meaning of being and what is the source?
In the passage before us, we have our answer. We have being because we are known by God. For God to declare that he knows and sets apart the
prophet Jeremiah even before he is conceived indicates
that our being rests in God's own being. Because He is and because He wills we, therefore,
are and do. The Apostle Paul says as much when he declares before
the philosophers of his day, "In Him we live and move
and have our being" (Acts 17:28). One of the tragedies of the abortion culture is that
life in the womb has been so heartbreakingly devalued. To embrace the arguments of the "pro-choice" crowd one
must conclude that the child in the womb doesn’t exist,
isn't there, has no being. But nothing could be further
from the truth. That child is known by God and, as such, has being.
------------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
------------------------------------------------------ Lord God, we confess that in You we live and move and
have our being. Because You are, we are. May we find grace from You to affirm the being of
every human and may we labor to make this truth known
to the world around us. Amen.
------------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
------------------------------------------------------ To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2011day21print.pdf
------------------------------------------------------ Yours for Life, Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life PS: As always, if you have an interesting story about
your 40 Days for Life campaign, please share it! You
may add a reply to today's blog entry at: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1831
40 Days for Life 10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
Elizabeth McClung in Austin, Texas. Elizabeth has led many successful 40 Days for Life
campaigns in the most pro-abortion city in the Lone
Star State. This is one of several updates that again show the
tremendous power of a few humble souls gathered together
in prayer in front of the places where there is such
despair and destruction.
-------------------------------------------------------
AUSTIN, TEXAS
------------------------------------------------------- Elizabeth in Austin received what she describes as "a
very friendly courtesy call from the FBI." The agent
reported that Whole Woman's Health in Austin has made
several complaints about the peaceful presence of
40 Days for Life. Her reaction? "What a blessing!" She said the abortion center's complaint "is just the
type of confirmation that we always pray for. We now
know how much of an impact we are having on their clients,
their abortion numbers, and on their workers!" Elizabeth is also aware of four women who were scheduled
for abortions at that facility, but who changed their
minds during this 40 Days for Life campaign. "Thank God for the work He is doing inside of that
abortion clinic," she said. "Our presence is working!" To see photos of the peaceful 40 Days for Life vigil
in Austin, please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1831
-------------------------------------------------------
OLD TOWN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
------------------------------------------------------- In the Old Town section of Chicago, the 40 Days for Life
vigil is going on outside a Planned Parenthood office.
And it seems the people inside aren’t real comfortable
with the volunteers peacefully praying outside. According to team leaders in Old Town, "Planned
Parenthood posted a sign on the outside of their
building claiming that photography or audio/video
recording at their facility would be punishable by a
$25,000 fine or 1-5 years in jail." "After consulting with an attorney from the Thomas More
Society Pro-Life Law Center and the police, we have
decided that this sign is largely groundless," said one
of the coordinators. "We will continue to film our
valiant vigil participants as we see fit." And they did! To see photos of 40 Days for Life vigil
participants in Old Town Chicago, please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1831
-------------------------------------------------------
BRYAN/COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS
------------------------------------------------------- Planned Parenthood tries to present itself as the only
place in town women can go for low-cost health care.
That simply isn't correct. And the 40 Days for Life
team in Bryan/College Station has been giving women the
real facts on the sidewalk outside Planned Parenthood. When a woman brought her granddaughter in for a
check-up, a counselor told her there's no doctor at
Planned Parenthood, and there were other places to go
that did not offer abortions. Another young woman wanted a pregnancy test. She was
guided to the Coalition for Life, where she could get
the test at no cost -- and would NOT be pressured into
an abortion. Finally, counselors were able to refer a third young
woman to another provider for routine care -- she hadn't
known of any alternatives. "You know, I've never felt entirely comfortable coming
here," she said, "and now I have somewhere else to go!"
Today's devotional is from Rev. J. Kirk van der
Swaagh of the Conservative Congregational Christian
Conference.
------------------------------------------------------
DAY 21 INTENTION
------------------------------------------------------ We pray for the conversion of all those who refuse to
acknowledge that human life belongs only to God.
------------------------------------------------------
SCRIPTURE
------------------------------------------------------ Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: "Before
I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were
born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to
the nations." -- Jeremiah 1:4-5
------------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Rev. J. Kirk van der Swaagh
------------------------------------------------------ To be or not to be? There is no question! The question of "being" is something philosophers
have long pondered. What is the meaning of being and what is the source?
In the passage before us, we have our answer. We have being because we are known by God. For God to declare that he knows and sets apart the
prophet Jeremiah even before he is conceived indicates
that our being rests in God's own being. Because He is and because He wills we, therefore,
are and do. The Apostle Paul says as much when he declares before
the philosophers of his day, "In Him we live and move
and have our being" (Acts 17:28). One of the tragedies of the abortion culture is that
life in the womb has been so heartbreakingly devalued. To embrace the arguments of the "pro-choice" crowd one
must conclude that the child in the womb doesn’t exist,
isn't there, has no being. But nothing could be further
from the truth. That child is known by God and, as such, has being.
------------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
------------------------------------------------------ Lord God, we confess that in You we live and move and
have our being. Because You are, we are. May we find grace from You to affirm the being of
every human and may we labor to make this truth known
to the world around us. Amen.
------------------------------------------------------
PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
------------------------------------------------------ To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2011day21print.pdf
------------------------------------------------------ Yours for Life, Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life PS: As always, if you have an interesting story about
your 40 Days for Life campaign, please share it! You
may add a reply to today's blog entry at: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1831
40 Days for Life 10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
