Dear Deacon, Local media outlets have been all over 40 Days for Life
campaigns since we kicked off in 247 cities just last
Wednesday ... ... and we've seen great -- and positive -- coverage of
YOUR campaigns! Here are just a few examples:
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LANSING, MICHIGAN
------------------------------------------------------- Chris Veneklase of the 40 Days for Life team in Lansing
had an opportunity to talk about the campaign on Tony
Conley's morning program on WILS-AM. It's a secular
station that also features nationally syndicated hosts
such as Laura Ingraham. Things got very personal -- and quite moving -- when
it came to a discussion of the overwhelming number of
abortions that are recommended when doctors discover
that a child in the womb has Down syndrome. Tony Conley said he tried to get a representative of
Planned Parenthood to come on the program. But no one
was interested. To hear a short clip from the interview (it's
powerful!), please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1645
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MODESTO, CALIFORNIA
------------------------------------------------------- This marks the first 40 Days for Life campaign in
Modesto, and the local team was featured in a story
in the local newspaper, the Modesto Bee. It's not a political or noisy protest, said local
coordinator Mark Jeffords. "It's a Christian prayer
vigil, definitely not a protest," he said. "We're
trying to raise public awareness. There won't be
any shouting." Mark emphasized that the campaign is "also are trying
to reach out to the women. We want to tell them about
the Modesto Pregnancy Center. They also have services
for women. I hope the women realize there's a person
in their bodies who is coming into the world and also
understand that they're not alone." For a link to the full story in the Modesto Bee,
please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1645
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LAFAYETTE, INDIANA
------------------------------------------------------- The first-time 40 Days for Life campaign in Lafayette
got the attention of the Journal and Courier locally. In this case, a Planned Parenthood representative DID
speak to the reporter, rattling off the standard line
about vigil participants "harassing patients." The newspaper also included a picture, which proved to
be worth more than a thousand Planned Parenthood talking
points. The picture shows two women quietly praying on
the sidewalk -- no "harassment" whatsoever! "We're simply there praying," said Lafayette campaign
coordinator Judy Watson. "How could anybody not want that?" For a link to the Lafayette Journal and Courier story --
and the picture -- please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1645
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TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
------------------------------------------------------- As part of their community outreach, the 40 Days for
Life team in Tallahassee participated in a memorial
service for aborted babies at a local cemetery -- and
WCTV, the local CBS affiliate, reported on the event. The station interviewed local coordinator Chris Moleski
for the report. She said that 40 Days for Life "is a
campaign that has been developed to give people an
opportunity to bring about an end to abortion through
prayer, fasting and community outreach." For a link to the WCTV story -- including the video of
the news report -- please go to: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1645
Today's devotional is from Rev. Rob Schenck, president
of Faith and Action.
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DAY 8 INTENTION
------------------------------------------------------ We pray for a renewal of our zeal to offer generous
help to the unborn and their families.
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SCRIPTURE
------------------------------------------------------ If I have despised the cause of my male or female
servant when they complained against me, what then
shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how
shall I answer Him? Did not He who made me in the womb
make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the
womb? -- Job 31:13-15
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REFLECTION by Rev. Rob Schenck, Faith and Action
------------------------------------------------------ The ground is level as we stand before God. Job lived with an awe provoking sense of God's
expectation of him, particularly regarding his
obligation to care for the weak and needy. He knew that in God's economy everyone stands on level
ground when it comes to our status as God's creatures.
Because of that central truth, we must take care of
each other. Job also knew that he didn't deserve any of the good
things God gave to him. Instead, those blessings came
to Job from God's benevolent heart. As an extension of that knowledge, Job instinctively
linked his obligation to be generous to others to
God's kindness toward him. As in Jesus' parable of the unmerciful servant
(Matthew 18:23-35), Job knew that it is an egregious
sin to deny to others what we enjoy ourselves. He actually calls down on his own head severe
condemnation and even punishment should he fail to
share with others out of his own abundance (see verses
16-23). Proverbs 3:27 reads, "Withhold not good from them to
whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand
to do so." Some things are so obvious that we don't
even need to pray except to ask of God forgiveness and
the power to do what so obviously needs doing.
------------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
------------------------------------------------------ God, forgive us when we try to explain away the
obligation we have to help others who need help. Enable us to not devalue them because they are in the
circumstance that they are in, but to see them for
what they are, those, who like us, were formed by your
hand in their mother's womb. Amen.
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PRINTABLE DEVOTIONAL
------------------------------------------------------ To download today's devotional as a formatted,
printable PDF to share with friends: http://40daysforlife.com/docs/spring2011day08print.pdf
------------------------------------------------------ As we begin the second week of this 40 Days for Life,
let's pray that God continues to pour out His rich
blessings on everyone involved! Yours for Life, Shawn Carney
Campaign Director
40 Days for Life PS: If you have good news to report about 40 Days
for Life in your community, please post a comment on
today's blog entry: http://40daysforlife.com/blog/?p=1645
40 Days for Life 10908 Courthouse Road
Suite 102229
Fredericksburg, VA
22408
US
