DEACON FOR LIFE

Were there to be no support in the whole history of ethical and moral thought, were there no acknowledged confirmation from medical science, were the history of legal opinion to the contrary, we would still have to conclude on the basis of God's Holy Word that the unborn child is a person in the sight of God. He is protected by the sanctity of life graciously given to each individual by the Creator, Who alone places His image upon man and grants them any right to life which they have.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

DAY 5: In any language

Dear Deacon,
When the first nationally coordinated 40 Days for Life
campaign was being planned in 2007, we hoped for
20 cities, honestly. Of course, we weren't thinking
big enough.
In September 2007, the first 40 Days for Life campaign
launched in 89 cities. And it's now grown to 247 cities!
Then, when we thought this would ONLY be a campaign for
the United States ...
... well, we were wrong again! We’re in nine countries
this campaign.
Here's a quick world tour of some of our 32 international
vigil locations:

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ENGLAND
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London is back for its second campaign, and Cheltenham
is along for its first.
The London campaign continues to have a strong reach
into the international community, and more nations may
be joining 40 Days for Life in the future -- with help
from Robert, the campaign coordinator in London.
Robert sent along a link to a short video promoting
40 Days for Life in London.
I've watched this several times and it's downright
amazing.
This video is directed at a specific community in
England's capital, and the on-screen information is
presented in their native language -- POLISH!
To see the Polish video about 40 Days for Life in
England, please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1578

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SPAIN
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The 40 Days for Life coordinators in Spain have jumped
into this project with a tremendous amount of enthusiasm
and hard work.
The first inquiry we received mentioned the possibility
of a campaign in Madrid. As the months went by and the
word spread, that has grown to TEN different cities!
40 Days for Life in Spain now has its own national team
and its own web site -- and people are answering the
call to pray and fast for an end to abortion.
To see photos of the 40 Days for Life campaigns in
Madrid, Segovia and Puerto de Santa Maria, please go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1578

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GEORGIA
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Georgia was once part of the Soviet Union, and abortion
continues to be a major concern there. Please keep this
campaign in your prayers; not only does it have great
potential to save lives (one baby saved already!), it
also has the potential to foster greater unity in the
Body of Christ.
"Every denomination that exists in Tbilisi is
participating," said Carolyn, who is coordinating this
first-ever campaign in Georgia. "This is truly
unprecedented!"
Carolyn sent some photos from the vigil in front of
Parliament in Tbilisi, which is Georgia’s capital.
I don't understand the words -- and I certainly can't
read the language. They use a totally different alphabet.
But Carolyn says the signs read "choose life" and
"abortion stops a beating heart."
That sounds quite familiar, doesn’t it? It shows that
abortion is a worldwide problem -- and that God has a
worldwide answer.
To see pictures from 40 Days for Life in Georgia, please
go to:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1578

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AUSTRALIA
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There are six cities Down Under for this 40 Days for
Life campaign -- the most yet in Australia. And it
isn't springtime there. This campaign begins in the
final days of summer, rolling into early autumn.
The kickoff in Sydney was quite an event -- and we have
the video!
Check out the Sydney 40 Days for Life kickoff at:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1578

Today's devotional is from Rev. John Brown of United
Friends for Life.

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DAY 5 INTENTION
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May God's justice sober our society; may mercy triumph
over judgment.

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SCRIPTURE
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Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning;
from the hand of every beast I will require it, and
from the hand of man. From the hand of every man's
brother I will require the life of man.
Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be
shed; for in the image of God He made man.
-- Genesis 9:5-6

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REFLECTION by Rev. John Brown, United Friends for Life
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The value of every human being can hardly be seen more
clearly than with this verse. God, the King of the
universe, has created all human beings in his image,
and declares forthrightly that shedding the blood of
any individual will require the blood of the one who
shed it.
God's concern for human beings is not limited to any
particular group. Indeed, his concern is universal,
and includes male and female, young and old, born and
unborn, disabled and able-bodied, the citizens of
every nation on earth.
Abortion, the deliberate killing of the unborn, is the
shedding of innocent blood. Surely the blood of
millions upon millions of innocent children cries out
to God.
It is true that we live in an age of grace, and yet
this passage (among many other texts which express
similar sentiments) should give every thinking
Christian pause.
Christians of all people, entrusted with the Word of
God as we are, must take a stand. We must speak out.
We must do all that we can to protect the innocent, to
pursue justice, and to encourage the repentance of all
those who bear responsibility for this great evil.
Only in this manner can we hope to forestall the
judgment that must otherwise surely come.
This passage should also be seen as an encouragement
to educate and disciple our children and grandchildren
about what it means to be human and the responsibility
that will become theirs in this ongoing struggle.

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PRAYER
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O Father, forgive us for our lack of courage and our
want of compassion for the unborn and for those lost
and hurt by abortion. Fill us anew with your Spirit.
Renew our minds, strengthen us in righteousness, help
us be people of salt and light within our nation.
May every human being, from conception to natural
death, be treated with the respect due those made in
your image.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
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To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends:
http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2011day05print.pdf

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Yours for Life,
Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life
PS: Have you received any special blessings as a
result of your 40 Days for Life participation? I so,
please share them by posting on today's blog at:
http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1578
40 Days for Life
10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US