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.
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
40 DAYS FOR LIFE: DAY 28: Life on the road
Deacon John,
What is it like to journey through 50 states in 40 days on an RV?
Today we'll go behind the scenes on the 40 Days for Life UNITED bus with
Steve Karlen, who recorded the newest 40 Days for Life podcast with me
from the road.
Steve offers the inside scoop about what the tour has been like --
including the enthusiastic response you've been giving the team at every
stop. He also recounts some of the logistical challenges and touching
moments.
Here we go on our second day in California -- with a side trip to Alaska, too!
We had our first completely bilingual vigil stop of the tour in Fairfield, California,
where we had a great turnout for 9:00 on a weekday morning. More than
60 lives have been saved at past 40 Days for Life campaigns at this
site.
Faithful prayer warriors in Vallejo
have been holding 40 Days for Life campaigns outside this Planned
Parenthood for years. One leader talked about a baby saved from abortion
here ... who is now six years old! His mother calls him "the 40 Days
for Life child."
In San Jose,
we stopped right outside the headquarters of Planned Parenthood Mar
Monte -- the largest, most lucrative of the abortion chain's US
affiliates. Ricky Silva, who leads a college Students for Life chapter,
fired up the crowd -- and lovingly invited the abortion workers who were
listening to quit their jobs and embrace life.
Gilroy, California
is the garlic capital of America ... and they have amazing 40 Days for
Life participation. This vigil stop featured a pastor who emphasized
that God is the only solution
to our cultural problems ... and a maternal nurse who shared the need
to reform a health care system that currently puts cost savings ahead of
the lives of babies.
In Watsonville, California, so many passing drivers honked in support that we could barely hear each other. A Planned Parenthood worker came out twice to complain about our presence. He was invited to join us in prayer, but he walked back into the abortion center.
In Seaside, California
(right along Monterrey Bay), volunteers have been holding 40 Days for
Life vigils since 2008 -- along a busy road, outside of Planned
Parenthood. Their dedication is inspiring!
Our second day in California wrapped up in San Luis Obispo.
For a California college town of around 45,000 people to turn out
around 200 people -- across many different Christian faith traditions --
for a candlelight event outside Planned Parenthood is amazing.
A TV news crew came out to cover the event, and speaker after speaker
electrified the crowd. God is at work in California, and across the USA!
In Anchorage, we encountered our first pro-life moose! In fact, two of them strolled right past the vigil site.
The Alaska state rally was also the first tour stop where speakers needed to make a stage out of a snow bank. Whenever
we're tempted to fret about inclement weather at a 40 Days for Life
vigil, we can simply look to these hearty Alaskans for inspiration.
Fortunately, I wasn't the only outsider shivering through the event.
Silent No More co-founder Georgette Forney also made the trek to speak
at the rally.
We have just enough time to thaw out before the UNITED tour rolls through more of California as well as Hawaii.
"We have seen more and more committed volunteers," said Lourdes in Mexico City, "humbly praying for a Mexico free of abortion" ... [more]
Jacksonville, Florida
"We
have a report there were no abortions at our vigil site one day last
week. The abortionist arrived at 10:40 am and left at 10:50" ... [more]
Wash
yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings
from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice,
rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.
-- Isaiah 1:16-17
O God, our heavenly Father, give us courage and wisdom as we seek to eradicate the evil in our society.
Help us to realize that your divine Spirit alone can change hearts and
minds so that all your human creatures may enjoy the fullness of life
you intended for them.
