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Life Lines for July 4, 2010
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville
My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy! ~Thomas Jefferson
Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die. ~Dwight D. Eisenhower
The preceding words from a couple of our nation’s past leaders still hold true today as we celebrate the birthday of our wonderful nation.
God has indeed blessed our nation with bright minds, religious freedom, and a wealth of resources. As Americans, we have the freedom to choose many things that affect our daily lives … including the choice to kill our unborn children.
Why have we Christians allowed this slaughter to continue? This nation elected the most proabortion (pro-death) president in its history in November of 2008. Why? Because the majority of Americans were less concerned with the lives of our future children than with they were with the rhetoric of “hope and change”.
Under President Obama, our nation has seen the floodgates for abortion opened wide to promote abortion here in our nation and also abroad, using the money of the American taxpayer.
Have you ever considered how long God will continue to bless our nation if we continue to choose death as the answer to problems? Has abortion been good for America? For women? For babies? Did abortion "liberate" women and free them from "male oppression?" Did it give them "control" over their bodies and lives as some feminists promised?
Or, has abortion hurt women, bringing them pain, shame, guilt and regrets? How many more babies will die? How many more women will be injured?
Let's work together to ban abortion. It's time to speak up for women and their babies. I truly believe that we have arrived at a tipping point in this great land and if we don’t put a stop to the slaughter of the innocents, our nation will fall as others from past history who chose to ignore the Word of God.
Live as free man, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil. I Peter 2:16.
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Life Lines for July 11, 2010
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville
The following article was written by Wesley Smith and appeared in the June 29, 2010 edition of “Secondhand Smoke”
A new test is in the works that will allow Down fetuses to be detected without the risks of current screening. From the story:
A quick inexpensive blood test for Down’s syndrome that could save the lives of hundreds of unborn babies each year is being developed by scientists. The ‘holy grail’ of diagnosis, it would pick up signs of the disease from a few drops of the mother’s blood.
The test could save lives by removing the risk of miscarriage associated with current tests…Dr Frints, of Maastricht University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, has already created a kit that can work out if the baby is a boy or a girl. She is adapting the kit to test for Down’s syndrome and other genetic conditions could follow. Around 25,000 British women a year have invasive tests for Down’s syndrome, so the test has the potential to save 250 lives annually.
The statement in the story really meant “save the lives of normal babies.” These tests are intended as a search and destroy mission, to find and promote eradication of Down fetuses. The babies miscarried now as a result of invasive testing might be called collateral damage in the larger eugenic drive.
I am certainly in favor of preventing those miscarriages. And, of course, some families will use the information provided to prepare themselves and family for the arrival of a child with a disability, as did the Palins (for which some will never forgive them).
But the latter benefit isn’t the primary point of the test and certainly not why the medical establishment promotes universal pre-natal testing so enthusiastically. Frankly, they are not satisfied with a 90% termination rate.
But isn’t it ironic–that we will save some “good” babies, in order to find a better way to identify others to terminate. If babies of color were being similarly targeted it would be called racism.
Children are indeed a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” Psalm 127:3
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Life Lines for July 18, 2010
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville
This last year has been a journey of walking by faith for me because my husband and soul mate passed away on July 19, 2009. I have experienced many lows and few highs in my life during my grief. I look back and wonder how I managed to function well enough to deal with the disposal of my husband’s farm machinery, pay bills, and manage the farming operation.
I was blessed to have the help of friends and family get me through the rough times while my faith in God gave me the strength to get out of bed each day.
People deal with grief in many different ways and there is no right or wrong way or a timetable of getting over your grief. What we do have though is the great assurance of Jesus as he promised, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). God beckons us into His loving arms so He can heal our wounded hearts.
While writing this article, I thought about the men and women who grieve the loss of their child from the sin of abortion. No matter how the pro-choice crowd wants to spin the act of abortion, the truth is every woman who has had an abortion has undergone a real death experience … the death of her very own child. But, the way these women deal with their grief is usually very different from the way people deal with the death of a loved one.
The woman who grieves the loss of the child that was killed from abortion often hides her grief. Society doesn’t acknowledge that a child died, so the woman naturally hides her sorrow. The death of this woman’s child isn’t afforded a funeral, there is no grave to visit, no consolation from friends, family or clergy because she is usually alone with the knowledge of what she has done.
The woman may be haunted with the thought that “I allowed my baby to be killed” and they eventually may find themselves unable to deal with the guilt. It may take many months or even years before the proper help is made available because of the reluctance of the mental medical community to recognize the many phases of post-abortion grief.
But, for those suffering from the guilt of abortion, waiting for help is not necessary. Word of Hope is a ministry of Lutheran for Life and provides help for those suffering from post abortion syndrome. This ministry can be reached at 888-217-8679 or www.wordofhope.org.
Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32.
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Life Lines for July 25, 2010
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville
Folks both inside and outside of the medical and scientific community agree that stem cell research affords one of the most exciting and promising means for treating patients with a variety of diseases and conditions. Stem cell research and treatments represent perhaps our greatest opportunity to fulfill that ancient call to “heal the sick,” relieve suffering and improve the quality of life for untold millions of people.
Recently scientists have discovered how to reprogram human blood cells to mimic embryonic stem cells. The research, published in Cell Stem Cell, may offer one more way to produce the cells without the destruction of human life. That's why pro-life advocates are especially encouraged by this breakthrough.
Judith Staerk, a researcher at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research stated that there are additional advantages. “Blood is the easiest, most accessible source of cells,” she said, "because you’d rather have 20 milliliters of blood drawn than have a punch biopsy taken to get skin cells."
Dr. David Prentice, senior fellow for Life Sciences, Center for Human Life and Bioethics for the Family Research Council, said so far such advances are also proving the most successful. “There are enough cells available in a sample of blood that you can immediately start making the (embryonic-like) cells,” he said.
“When it comes down to actually treating patients,” he said, “right now, it’s adult stem cells that are still the only successful stem cell to treat disease.”
I firmly believe that God will never allow success using embryonic stem cells to treat people because it destroys a human life in the process of obtaining the cells. It’s simply morally wrong to intentionally kill one human life in order to benefit another.
The bible tells us that human existence begins at conception.
Jeremiah 1:4-5, The Word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I sent you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
The international opinion of embryologists agrees with the Word of God that life begins at fertilization. At that very moment of conception, the embryo is 100% human and can never be anything but human with all 46 human chromosomes and a fully functioning, unique genetic code. The size and location of that embryo should not determine its humanity.
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Life Lines for August 1, 2010
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville
President Obama continues his assault on the value of human life with his recent recess appointment of Donald Berwick as the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Berwick has publicly advocated rationing care for the vulnerable … meaning the elderly and the sickest of our nationʼs citizens.
The recess appointment sidestepped strong opposition from pro-life leaders who would have certainly asked probing questions on Berwickʼs stand for government-imposed rationing of medical care.
Berwick was quoted in June of 2009 in the journal of Biotechnology Healthcare, “The decision is not whether or not we will ration care – the decision is whether we will ration with our eyes open.”
These are chilling words to me and should be to every American citizen. As early as 1994 Berwick wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association, "Most metropolitan areas in the United States should reduce the number of centers engaging in cardiac surgery, high-risk obstetrics, neonatal intensive care, organ transplantation, tertiary cancer care, high-level trauma care, and high-technology imaging"
What drives this man to promote rationing healthcare? The answer lies in reducing costs. Cutting per capita healthcare costs will have immediate results if expensive medical treatment is reduced for those who need it most. For instance, cardiac surgery, high-risk obstetrics, and trauma care are just a few examples representing expensive advanced technology in medicine.
If these patients are simply allowed to die, healthcare costs per capita will go down. In other words, Obama is setting the stage for folks of his choosing to play God with American lives. Berwick has joined Obamaʼs stable of czars, making Berwick the death czar.
With the truth before you, what will you do about it? Will you make a stand FOR LIFE? Or sit by silently while the culture of death creeps even further into our lives?
Proverbs 24:11-12 "Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don't stand back and let them die. Don't try to disclaim responsibility by saying you didn't know about it."
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Life Lines for August 8, 2010
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville
Pro-life advocates gathered in Green Bay, WI on July 23-24 for the annual Lutherans for Life conference. Bringing Good News to Life, the theme for the 2010 conference, reminded me of the Good News of salvation through faith in Christ and how Christ died so all believers can have Life!
The conference speakers educated the attendees on current life issues. Some of the topics covered were bioethics, physician assisted suicide/euthanasia, sharing a pro-life message to a secular world, reaching out to young people, and basic human rights.
Wesley Smith, author, attorney and bioethicist was the keynote speaker on Friday evening sharing his thoughts on the topic of The Need For Good News: The Death Culture and Ways to Fight It.
Mr. Smith made the point several times in his speech that our society is intent on eliminating suffering which quickly turns into eliminating the sufferer.
He said the culture of death is “very powerful and wants us to believe that being a human doesn’t matter … and that is very dangerous.”
Mr. Smith also proclaimed that we must offer both hope and facts when witnessing for life because “the facts are on our side.”
It was a fast paced, but uplifting two days of learning how to be better informed on current life issues.
Lay people and pastors alike should be educating their family, friends, co-workers and society in general about the evils of abortion and other life issues. I believe that Dr. Lamb summed it up best in the following statements.
“Failing to preach about abortion offends women more grievously that preaching about it.” Dr. Lamb further exclaims, “If the sin of abortion is never mentioned, then the Gospel – that Gospel pastors have been called to proclaim – is never applied to that sin nor to those caught up in the pain and guilt of abortion. Instead, Satan whispers through the silence, ‘This sin is so awful, even Jesus can’t forgive you.”’
The good news is that, no matter how serious the sin, God is always seeking us out and is willing to forgive and forget our sins and give us a fresh start. As long as we live, it is never too late to ask for forgiveness and make a new start!
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Life Lines for August 15, 2010
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville
From a July 30 Washington Times piece
by Rita Diller of American Life League
Where's the money? That's the question on everyone's mind after reading the recently released Government Accountability Office report. The GAO numbers on money paid out to Planned Parenthood between 2002 and 2008 reveal an unaccounted-for $1.3B.
No answers have been forthcoming. In typical Planned Parenthood style, the abortion giant has done nothing to shed light on the question. In fact, it has done just the opposite....
After weeks of investigation by ALL's Stop Planned Parenthood project, it appears the reason the GAO was not able to account for the expenditure of the great majority of the government money received is that PP will not produce its internal audits for the GAO to analyze.
Because of this, the GAO had to rely on reports filed by PP affiliates under the Single Audit Act, and those reports grossly underreport the amount of government money expended by PP.
The American taxpayers are left with more questions now than before:
Why didn't Planned Parenthood hand over its internal audits to the GAO as it did in 2001 in the face of a similar inquiry into its spending?
Why is the organization allowed to disregard the request of 31 U.S. senators and representatives to account for its expenditure of government funds? What is Planned Parenthood hiding?
Why do we continue to fund PP to the tune of $349M annually and not hold it accountable for how it spends that money?
Most important, why is an organization that kills more than 300k innocent unborn children each year sanctioned and funded by our government?...
PP used to supply service reports annually, but when facts about client loyalty and the targeting of minorities for abortions were highlighted by pro-life groups, PP stopped making the service reports public around 1992.
Fast-forward to 2010. For the past several years, those opposed to Planned Parenthood have been making public the facts and figures from PP's annual reports. These facts have shown the ever-increasing number of abortions performed: 244,628 (2003), 255,015 (2004), 264,943 (2005), 289,750 (2006) and 305,310 (2007), and the huge increase in taxpayer funds going to the organization (from $265.2M in 2004 to $349.6M in 2008). In the midst of all the controversy over the GAO report... it appears that PP... has decided simply to stop issuing its annual report.
We don't know how many abortions Planned Parenthood facilities performed in 2008 or 2009 because it is not releasing the numbers. We don't know the extent of government funding during its 2008-09 or 2009-10 fiscal years because it is not releasing the numbers.
If PP - a tax-exempt organization bankrolled to a staggering extent by the government - won't hand over its internal audits or let the public know the details of its operations, our government should stop handing over the taxpayers' hard-earned dollars to the organization....
Zechariah 8:16. These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts;
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Life Lines for August 22, 2010
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville
The following five paragraphs were taken directly from the website of the Hope Clinic in Granite City, IL.
Hope Clinic for Women is a safe haven for pregnant women looking for options. Hope opens their doors to women – and men – who are in need of reproductive care.
Hope does not make decisions for you. Hope informs you of the options available and allows you to decide what is best for you.
Hope does not judge. Hope provides unconditional understanding of your personal needs. Whether you are looking into birth control or abortion, Hope provides the support you need to choose.
Hope does not burden or pressure. Hope provides a safe, confidential, compassionate environment with board certified physicians and staff who are ready to help.
Hope is a pillar of strength. Hope has welcomed women in search of choices for more then 35 years.
But what about the women who have been hurt and have even died under the “safe haven” care of the Hope Clinic?
"The doctors were getting lazy when I was there. They are inducing a lot more women to speed up the process. I've seen some stuff and frankly am tired of the clinic... I hate all the bad things they are doing, putting lives in danger!" ~ former Hope Clinic employee.
Another employee has stated, "It is an assembly line inside there." The last nurse they hired refused to run the O.R. rooms due to liability issues with these careless abortionists. Currently the "deadly Dixon duo" sisters are running them, with Clara being the certified nurse's aide. In December, Hope Clinic contracted a former nurse to work on a per diem basis, which pays more money than a hired employee to sign out records, etc. She has not returned since. (Source: Illinois Family Institute, Feb. 2009)
There have been many documented cases of women being rushed across the street to the hospital from the Hope Clinic because of complications from one of their abortions.
Also, Hope Clinic has been guilty of covering up cases of rape and incest while proceeding with abortions
There are many walking wounded in our society who are trying to deal with the aftermath of their abortion. Back in 1973, what was once thought to be the cure-all for society's ills and to empower women has turned out to be a devastating cancer on society. Abortion is the most un-natural act on a woman's life and her body and we know what it does to the innocent body within. It has had a ripple effect on all of those involved. And society is now reaping what has been allowed to happen over the past 37 years when this horrible holocaust was unleashed. Abortion leaves two victims: one dead and one wounded.
Nahum 3:1. “Woe to the city of blood, full of lies, full of plunder, never without victims!”
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Life Lines for August 29, 2010
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville
The following article is courtesy of Illinois Federation Right to Life.
University of Minnesota researchers have used non-embryonic stem cells to treat successfully children with a lethal skin disease.
Another team of researchers, meanwhile, reported Aug. 16 they had used a different form of non-embryonic stem cells to provide therapies for laboratory rats with Parkinson's Disease.
Using adult stem cells from donor bone marrow or donor umbilical cord blood, the Minnesota scientists treated children with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), a severe form of epidermolysis bullosa (EB). EB, which also affects the lining of the mouth and esophagus, causes skin to blister, which can lead to infections and a virulent form of skin cancer. The disease has been regarded as incurable. Most children with EB do not survive their 20s.
The research team, led by John Wagner and Jakub Tolar, has transplanted adult stem cells into 10 children since 2007. The recipients have responded to a variety of degrees, Wagner said.
"This discovery is more unique and more remarkable than it may first sound," Tolar said. "... What we have found is that stem cells contained in bone marrow can travel to sites of injured skin, leading to increased production of collagen which is deficient in patients with RDEB. Bone marrow transplantation is one of the riskiest procedures in medicine, yet it is also one of the most successful. Patients who otherwise would have died from their disease can often now be cured. It's a serious treatment for a serious disease."
David Prentice, senior fellow for life sciences at Family Research Council, posted an Aug. 12 report about the Minnesota research on the organization's weblog. The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Meanwhile, researchers at the Buck Institute for Age Research in Novato, Calif., used human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to treat Parkinson's in rats, they reported. The iPSCs were derived from skin and blood cells and converted into neurons, then transplanted into rats with mid-brain injuries similar to those in human beings with Parkinson's. The rats demonstrated improvements in their motor skills, they said.
"Human iPSCs may provide an end-run around immuno-rejection issues surrounding the use of human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to treat disease," said researcher Xianmin Zeng. "They may also solve bioethical issues surrounding [embryonic stem cells]."
The extraction of embryonic stem cells requires the destruction of the tiny human embryos from which they are taken. Extracting iPSCs and other non-embryonic stem cells does not harm the donor.
Psalm 100:3 - Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are his, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
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