STAND FOR LIFE

Atrocity: Many Churches Support Abortion

2009-11-08T23:02:00.000-08:00

What three organizations have backed abortion on demand? The answer that many might respond with is Planned Parenthood, the Democratic Party, NARAL or some women's group.

How about three of the largest church organizations in America: the Evangelical Lutheran Church In America (10,500 congregations), the Presbyterian Church (10,000 congregations and 2.3 million members), and the United Methodist Church (8 million members).

Evangelical Lutheran Church In America's Social Statement On Abortion is an exercise in hypocrisy and nothing more than an attempt to please everyone involved except the unborn. Here are a few excerpts from their statement:

Some basic faith convictions undergird our judgments on abortion: Human beings, created in God’s image as male and female (Genesis 1:27-28), are persons of intrinsic value and dignity (p.2)

All of life is a mysterious, awesome gift of God. Biblical passages express the God-given mystery of creation (Psalm 139; Jeremiah 1:5; Isaiah 40:26ff; Luke 1:41; Acts 17:24-25). God creates life, redeems it through Jesus Christ, and fulfills it in the coming of the reign of God. Personal human life is a part of this divine drama. God creates a human being through complex genetic, physiological, and relational developments. Human life in all phases of its development is God-given and, therefore, has intrinsic value, worth, and dignity. (p.2)

A developing life in the womb does not have an absolute right to be born, nor does a pregnant woman have an absolute right to terminate a pregnancy. (p.2)

Because we believe that God is the creator of life, the number of induced abortions is a source of deep concern to this church. We mourn the loss of life that God has created. (p.3)

They mourn the loss of life that God has created, but they agree that someone should have a right to end that life.
Abortion ought to be an option only of last resort.

Because of the Christian presumption to preserve and protect life, this church, in most circumstances, encourages women with unintended pregnancies to continue the pregnancy.(p.6)

This church recognizes that there can be sound reasons for ending a pregnancy through induced abortion. The following provides guidance for those considering such a decision. We recognize that conscientious decisions need to be made in relation to difficult circumstances that vary greatly. What is determined to be a morally responsible decision in one situation may not be in another.

Translation: We believe in the preservation and protection of life, but since we don't have any set morals the woman can kill her unborn if she wants.

In reflecting ethically on what should be done in the case of an unintended pregnancy, consideration should be given to the status and condition of the life in the womb. We also need to consider the conditions under which the pregnancy occurred and the implications of the pregnancy for the woman’s life.

An abortion is morally responsible in those cases in which continuation of a pregnancy presents a clear threat to the physical life of the woman. A woman should not be morally obligated to carry the resulting pregnancy to term if the pregnancy occurs when both parties do not participate willingly in sexual intercourse. This is especially true in cases of rape and incest. This can also be the case in some situations in which women are so dominated and oppressed that they have no choice regarding sexual intercourse and little access to contraceptives. Some conceptions occur under dehumanizing conditions that are contrary to God’s purposes. (p.7)

There are circumstances of extreme fetal abnormality, which will result in severe suffering and very early death of an infant. In such cases, after competent medical consultations, the parent(s) may responsibly choose to terminate the pregnancy. Whether they choose to continue or to end such pregnancies, this church supports the parent(s) with compassion, recognizing the struggle involved in the decision. Although abortion raises significant moral issues at any stage of fetal development, the closer the life in the womb comes to full term the more serious such issues become.

Translation: A fetus at five or six months isn't as valuable as one at full term. I wonder if they believe a toddler is as valuable as an adolescent.
When a child can survive outside a womb, it becomes possible for other people, and not only the mother, to nourish and care for the child. This church opposes ending intrauterine life when a fetus is developed enough to live outside a uterus with the aid of reasonable and necessary technology. If a pregnancy needs to be interrupted after this point, every reasonable and necessary effort should be made to support this life, unless there are lethal fetal abnormalities indicating that the prospective newborn will die very soon.(p.7)

In conclusion, the church’s role in society begins long before and extends far beyond legislative regulation. It seeks to shape attitudes and values that affirm people in whatever circumstances they find themselves.(p.11)
In other words we have no concrete attitudes and values, but we will agree with whatever someone wants to do so we don't hurt their feelings.

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), From “Problem Pregnancies and Abortion,” 1992. The following are excerpts from their statement:

Problem pregnancies are the result of, and influenced by, so many complicated and insolvable circumstances that we have neither the wisdom nor the authority to address or decide each situation...

We affirm the ability and responsibility of women, guided by the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit, to make good moral choices in regard to problem pregnancies...

The considered decision of a woman to terminate a pregnancy can be a morally acceptable, though certainly not the only or required, decision. Possible justifying circumstances would include medical indications of severe physical or mental deformity, conception as a result of rape or incest, or conditions under which the physical or mental health of either woman or child would be gravely threatened ...

We are disturbed by abortions that seem to be elected only as a convenience or to ease embarrassment. We affirm that abortion should not be used as a method of birth control….

They are disturbed by it. That's not very tough language.
We do not wish to see laws enacted that would attach criminal penalties to those who seek abortions or to appropriately qualified and licensed persons who perform abortions in medically approved facilities….

We only believe in laws against someone who actually murders a born person.
The Christian community must be concerned about and address the circumstances that bring a woman to consider abortion as the best available option. Poverty, unjust societal realities, sexism, racism, and inadequate supportive relationships may render a woman virtually powerless to choose freely….

Then you do believe in abortion for convenience sake.

The United Methodist Church's Social Principle on Abortion is as follows:

By affirming the ability and responsibility of a woman to make good moral choices regarding problem pregnancies, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) does not advocate abortion but instead acknowledges circumstances in a sinful world that may make abortion the least objectionable of difficult options….

It's only least objectionable because the unborn doesn't have the ability to object.
The beginning of life and the ending of life are the Godgiven boundaries of human existence. While individuals have always had some degree of control over when they would die, they now have the awesome power to determine when and even whether new individuals will be born. Our belief in the sanctity of unborn human life makes us reluctant to approve abortion. But we are equally bound to respect the sacredness of the life and well-being of the mother and the unborn child.

But they are not equally sacred if the mother can kill her unborn child.
We recognize tragic conflicts of life with life that may justify abortion, and in such cases we support the legal option of abortion under proper medical procedures.

Didn't you just say "sanctity of unborn human life."
We oppose the use of late-term abortion known as dilation and extraction (partial-birth abortion) and call for the end of this practice except when the physical life of the mother is in danger and no other medical procedure is available, or in the case of severe fetal anomalies incompatible with life. Before providing their services, abortion providers should be required to offer women the option of anesthesia.

Oh, those severely disabled shouldn't be granted any rights. That anesthesia should be given so the mother doesn't realize she is killing a baby.
We call all Christians to a searching and prayerful inquiry into the sorts of conditions that may cause them to consider abortion. The church shall offer ministries to reduce unintended pregnancies. We commit our Church to continue to provide nurturing ministries to those who terminate a pregnancy, to those in the midst of a crisis pregnancy, and to those who give birth. We particularly encourage the Church, the government, and social service agencies to support and facilitate the option of adoption. We affirm and encourage the Church to assist the ministry of crisis pregnancy centers and pregnancy resource centers that compassionately help women find feasible alternatives to abortion. Governmental laws and regulations do not provide all the guidance required by the informed Christian conscience. Therefore, a decision concerning abortion should be made only after thoughtful and prayerful consideration by the parties involved, with medical, family, pastoral, and other appropriate counsel.

If we just pray to God he will find abortion acceptable.

The following is a sampling of other churches and religious organizations that believe in abortion. The group Religious Coalition For Reproductive Choice lists a wide variety of members:

Conservative Judaism
Rabbinical Assembly
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Women’s League for Conservative Judaism

Episcopal Church

Ethical Culture
American Ethical Union National Service Conference

Humanist Judaism
Society for Humanistic Judaism

Presbyterian Church (USA)

Reconstructionist Judaism
Jewish Reconstructionist Federation
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association

Reform Judaism
Central Conference of American Rabbis
North American Federation of Temple Youth
Union for Reform Judaism
Women of Reform Judaism, The Federation of Temple Sisterhoods
Women’s Rabbinic Network of Central Conference of American Rabbis

United Church of Christ

United Methodist Church
General Board of Church and Society, United Methodist Church
General Board of Global Ministries, Women’s Division, United Methodist Church

Unitarian Universalist
Unitarian Universalist Association
Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation
Young Religious Unitarian Universalists
Continental Unitarian Universalist Young Adult Network

Caucuses/Organizations
American Jewish Committee
American Jewish Congress
Anti-Defamation League
Catholics for Choice
Christian Lesbians Out (CLOUT)
Church of the Brethren Women’s Caucus
Disciples for Choice
Episcopal Urban Caucus
Episcopal Women’s Caucus
Hadassah, WZOA
Jewish Women International
Lutheran Women’s Caucus
Methodist Federation for Social Action
NA’AMAT USA
National Council of Jewish Women
Presbyterians Affirming Reproductive Options (PARO)
Women’s American ORT
YWCA of the USA

How do we as a society give credence to all of the churches and related organizations that confess their belief in God and the Bible, but on the other hand think that it's perfectly fine to kill someone who was created in God's image? This is not to say that a woman facing a pregnancy is not free from difficulty, but why would these so-called moral institutions believe in the killing of the unborn life as an option.

Pam's Incredible Post Abortion Testimony

2009-10-16T14:54:00.001-07:00

Pam tells her story of abortion, how God changed her life, and how she was able to change the lives of a mother and her child. See related videos at To Be A Mother.

"Do You Have To Relate Everything To Abortion?"

2009-10-16T04:48:00.000-07:00

My family often asks me, "Do you have to relate everything to abortion?" The answer is, "It sure seems that way." What I saw on the news today was another example in my mind of the relationship between a national story and abortion.

I listened, watched, and prayed when I saw the balloon float across Colorado which supposedly carried a six-year-old boy. All the news outlets were intensely focused on this unbelievable story. When the boy was not immediately found, the story turned to eyewitness accounts of something falling off of the balloon. I just wonder what the parents felt like when they heard that. The boy was eventually found alive hiding in the attic. Wolf Blitzer of CNN was rightfully overjoyed along with anyone else reporting it.

Approximately 3,500 babies are aborted every day in America, and I can guarantee you that CNN and Wolf Blitzer never have done any story about that. What about the hundreds of babies that are saved through the pro-life actions of sidewalk counselors or those holding prayer vigils in front of Planned Parenthood? When a baby is saved through 40 Days For Life (251 so far in 21 days) there is no collective sigh of relief from any news source. How many decide not to abort after seeing their own baby in an ultrasound? The answer is thousands every year, but only the close connections to the mother know about it.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR SOCIETY? We should all be hoping and praying for the lives of the unborn just as we did for the boy that everyone thought was in the balloon. The innocent unborn lives deserve the same concern as we give any human outside the womb. It shouldn't matter if the unborn is one-week old or the born person is 100. They are both equally valuable and should be treated as such by the media and society in general.

Yes, so many topics can be related to abortion. This may sound simplistic, but every story or issue in our society includes people that could have easily been aborted. Every inspirational story about the disabled overcoming odds could have never happened if the parents decided to abort when they found out their baby was disabled.

Usually about once or twice a year in my city a dead baby is found in the trash or dumped somewhere else. The news anchors and reporters relay the story with appropriate grim faces and deep sorrowful voices. I'm not questioning their sincerity, but if the baby was aborted before it was born, they wouldn't even cover it. The media can't totally be blamed. Our society needs to view all life the same, whether born or unborn, and then maybe more will see the relationship between so many issues and abortion.

Police Arrest Image Of Jesus Chirst

2009-10-12T08:16:00.000-07:00

The Primary Pro-Life Strategy - Know Your Opponent

2009-10-10T18:14:00.000-07:00

Knowing how your opponent will probably respond to your message is key to understanding how to tailor it. Andrew Breitbart's strategy was brilliant concerning how and when to release the videos of the ACORN corruption, and ACORN and the liberal media responded exactly as he knew they would. If he would have released them all at once, the story would have garnered little traction. He spread out the release over a couple of weeks and let the momentum build against ACORN. Except for Fox News and conservative talk radio, the media looked like fools for not even covering it.

Along with this successful strategy, the fact that the masses could actually see videos of the corruption at ACORN was an invaluable tool. If there weren't any videos the whole project would have undoubtedly failed. It would have been ACORN's word against the two posing as a pimp and prostitute, and even FOX or talk radio wouldn't have given it as much attention.

How can this example be transferred to a strategy for the pro-life movement?
First, pro-lifers need to know how their opponent will probably respond to the pro-life message. They have to be able to answer the arguments that others give for abortion. For instance, if they use the "it's my body" or "what if a woman was raped" arguments, then how does one respond? If the pro-abortion crowd doesn't feel they are winning the argument, they often attack the pro-lifer personally or their method of delivering the message. Also, they try to get the pro-lifer to veer off on some tangent so as to distract from the pro-life message. We must be prepared in advance for those tactics to be used against us and respond accordingly.

If one just reads words on a paper that abortion is the killing of an unborn baby, the effect is minimal as compared to seeing what is really being destroyed. The organization Justice For All displays large panels of aborted baby pictures on college campuses which results in a tremendous impact on those who view them. There often are negative reactions from students, but the photographs force them to think about the issue.

The most successful tool in stopping abortions is the use of ultrasounds. The visual impact of seeing one's own child before birth has once again forced those involved to answer the question, "What is being killed in an abortion?" The consensus is that 60-80% of all women who were strongly considering abortion decided to keep the baby after seeing the ultrasound. The group Option Ultrasound states that at least 63,000 babies have been saved because of the ultrasound machines that it helped provide around the country.

The liberal mainstream media of course will not even touch the issue unless it's to portray pro-lifers as right-wing nuts. I believe they will never report the abortion issue fairly and will never display what has been killed in the womb. The way to circumvent them is to use the strategy that Breitbart did with the ACORN scandal, and that is to bypass the liberal media altogether. I don't think Fox is at the point yet where they will show aborted babies, so these images must be spread online or by outdoor displays. But Fox News did show Lila Rose's undercover investigation videos of Planned Parenthood and had many subsequent stories.
This method of getting the pro-life message across must be a sustained effort because it is a battle that has to be fought and ultimately won. But the strategy to combat abortion must be one that identifies the opponent, know how they are going to react, respond correctly to that reaction, all while displaying the pro-life message visually.

A Letter From A Grateful Mother

2009-09-28T16:00:00.000-07:00

Below is a letter that was sent to Project Defending Life in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

A Letter From A Grateful Mother

I would like to start this off by thanking God for all of the blessings in my life. My name is Misty Nelson. About four years ago I found out that I was pregnant. I was terrified, confused and my mind was going in so many different directions. My life was far from together. I was an alcoholic and made very little money. All I could think of is how I would ever be able to afford a child. I could not imagine how to raise a child because my mind was so scrambled at the time.

After a few weeks I decided to go to the abortion mill. I knew in my heart that was not the right thing to do but I bypassed that feeling. That day God sent me an angel by the name of Phil. As I was walking into the clinic he stopped me before I went in. He asked me why I was there. I let him know my situation. He told me it was my time to be a mother and it was in God’s plan. He handed me a rosary and he prayed for me. As I watched him praying tears fell down my face. I knew in my heart that God blessed me for a reason. I never thought that day would change the rest of my life.

My precious baby boy was born June 14, 2006. I have never known true love until the moment I held my child. I now have Caydence and he is three years old. I also have a beautiful baby girl who is one and a half years old. I am completely sober and have a great job, a wonderful family and my life has never been so complete and full of joy and happiness. I wake up every morning to see their bright smiles and hear their silly laughs. I can’t imagine life without them. I want to thank Phil for being my guardian angel. My life is turned around more than I ever would have imagined. No matter how hard life might seem to get the Lord blesses us in many ways. Just take them all and hold them close to your heart. It all works out in the end.

Thank you for everything,
Love Misty

Lisa's Baby Died Here

2009-09-20T05:44:00.000-07:00

Answering The Liberals' Racist Charge

2009-09-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

It seems silly that there is a need to defend the racist charges brought by liberals concerning opposition to Obama's policies. But these charges must be challenged or they probably will stick. President George W. Bush never answered all of the assorted ridiculous accusations against him, so eventually many Americans believed them to be true.

Some of the ways to refute the stupid racist accusations are as follows:

1. The protests at tea parties, town halls, and rallies were based on opposition to his agenda and how it will affect America.

2. Clarence Thomas, Condoleezza Rice, Thomas Sowell, to name a few, have tremendous support among conservative Americans. Colin Powell previously has had considerable backing until he drifted to the left politically.

3. Thousands of conservatives have tried desperately to stop the number one killer of African-Americans, and that is abortion. It is ironic that the vast majority of African-Americans vote for the candidates who support the continuation of this atrocity.

4. Along with disagreeing with Obama's agenda, many of these same Americans opposed Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and other liberals solely on their policies.

5. The vocal Americans who opposed Obama's proposals in the last three months have been called members of the mob, KKK, Nazis, lunatics, right-wing extremists, etc. This strategy only made people upset and mobilized them to protest even more. So in the self-proclaimed brilliance of the left, they decided to call them even more names. Since the other labels didn't work, they brought out Jimmy Carter and his fellow liberals to add the dreaded "racist" label to regular Americans. Their belief is that nobody wants to be proclaimed as a racist so all of these protesters will just shut up and get out of the way.

6. The head of the Republican Party is African-American Richard Steele.

7. In general, conservatives do not even think to bring race into the picture on any issue. Often the first inclination of liberals on any topic is to view it through the prism of race.

8. Why aren't Democrat members of Congress who are against the health care bill called racist?

9. Nancy Pelosi is now worried about the nonexistent threats of violence that these average Americans are promoting. Where was she for the last eight years when we had the constant hatred and threats of violence against George W. Bush? How many people were arrested at the rally in Washington D.C. on September 12? Absolutely none. If there were any violent tendencies there, logic would tell you that at least one person out of the million that attended would have slipped up and been arrested.

10. Obama is half black and half white. If blacks oppose him, are they considered racist against his white half?

Do Men Have A Right To Voice Their Opinion About Abortion?

2009-09-08T17:00:00.000-07:00

The pro-abortion crowd seems to always pull these statements out of the hat when they have run out of ways to defend abortion:

Men should not have a say in abortion.
It's a woman's body, so they should just keep quiet.
Men can't get pregnant, so they will never have to make the abortion decision.

These arguments are usually directed at a man who is trying to make a convincing argument to let the unborn baby live. It's basically an ad hominem attack used specifically to distract from the pro-life message. How does one refute this? The first answer stops them in their tracks. Roe v. Wade was decided by nine men on the Supreme Court. If one logically follows the pro-abortion argument, then this case must be thrown out.

Also, since they believe only people being adversely affected by an issue should be allowed to object to it, then only blacks should have been allowed to protest slavery. Whites had no right to object because it wasn't their body that was being used for slavery.

If you take a look at any breast cancer walks, there is a high percentage of men who participate. There are many other men who donate money either individually or through their business. Since breast cancer is primarily a disease that women get, then according to the pro-abortion logic, only women should be involved in stopping it. Also, to follow their argument, then groups like menagainstbreastcancer.org should not exist.

If the pro-abortion crowd believes that males don't get any say about abortion, then shouldn't the unborn females in the womb have a say? Obviously, half of all abortions are female, but there is never an outcry about all of the females being killed. The feminists and other abortion proponents never give a defense for these innocent unborn females who can't speak for themselves.

What about the fathers of the unborn children who do not have any rights? Often men encourage women to have an abortion, but there are some men who do not want their baby to be aborted. Unfortunately, they don't have any legal rights to stop the abortion. Also, there's plenty of evidence that some men have post-abortive problems. Ironically, they have no rights to stop the abortion, but if the woman has the child, the father usually has to pay child support. But granting the rights to fathers to stop abortions can backfire. A law that says that they have equal rights in the determination of abortion may cause unwanted problems. If a man can determine that she keep the baby, then it seems that he would also have the power to force her to have an abortion. There has to be a way to word the law in such a strict manner that if the father only doesn't want her to have an abortion, then she should not be allowed to have one. If the woman does not want the baby, the father should be able to keep it or put the baby up for adoption.

It is interesting that I have never heard any abortion proponents voice any objection to the activities or statements from men who defend the right to abort a baby. They have no problem with a court full of old men deciding a case in their favor. But when some pro-life men attempt to discuss the issue with them, one of the arguments they use is that men should not have a right to voice their opinion against abortion.

A Family's Decision To Let Thomas Live

2009-09-02T19:25:00.000-07:00

Why Does Obama Need A Civilian National Security Force?

2009-08-30T17:47:00.000-07:00

During the presidential campaign Barack Obama said the following:

"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set. We got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."

Why does Barrack Obama need a civilian national security force? What are the national security objectives? Who is threatening this country from within? It's basically anybody who disagrees with him.

First, there's the obvious enemy, Rush Limbaugh. The Left controls the White House, the Congress, almost all the media, but they are totally obsessed with Rush Limbaugh. They just don't have a spine to accept anyone who has a dissenting opinion.

Next is Fox News, or as Obama calls them, "the cable channels." Glenn Beck on Fox this past week pursued this civilian army subject in great detail. He asked for the White House to clarify their position, but they had no response. In fact, Fox daily has opposing opinions on shows such as The Factor and Hannity. Much of their other news is pretty much down the middle, something that is not acceptable to Obama and the Left.

Sarah Palin is in a class all by herself that the civilian force must deal with. Why do they even bother with her since they basically said she was inconsequential when running with McCain. They basically claimed she was a mayor from some dinky town and a short-term governor of a state that had more moose than people. The liberals are fairly ignorant when dealing with her. She mentions "death panels" on her Facebook page, and instead of shutting up about it they go berserk and the whole nation latches on to the term. Gee - I don't know if a whole civilian army would be able to stop her.

The army must be used to stop regular citizens from voicing their opinions at town hall meetings. Well, that has already started. Within days after Obama made the announcement that those opposed should just stop talking and move out of the way, the union thugs came in droves to the town halls. Their mission was basically to intimidate the everyday folks. His Service Employees International Union Army must stop these disgruntled senior terrorists NOW!

The primary group that Obama wants to send his army after is the pro-lifers. I believe President Obama thinks this is one of the most despicable groups around. Why? Because they are effective in community pro-life displays or doing sidewalk counseling in front of one of his favorite businesses - Planned Parenthood. I'm 100% convinced he will send his thugs to disrupt any pro-life display. Another goal is to control content on the internet, which will undoubtedly include pro-life sites. He already developed the snitch website flag@whitehouse.gov to report on information about the health care bill that seemed fishy. There's a bill that would give the president emergency control of non-governmental sites if there is a cyber-security threat.

Why are pro-lifers such a threat? Because they have the truth on their side when it pertains to the unborn. I believe deep down the liberals led by Obama know that abortion is just the killing of an innocent baby, but they just can't handle the truth. The health care debate is obviously about control of people, and Obama is using health care as a vehicle to obtain that control. The unborn are easiest to control because they have no way to voice their disapproval of being killed. Those who speak for them are a force that must be destroyed. He will go beyond the usual union thugsters and recruit regular non-union citizens to join the civilian army to stamp this movement out.

President Obama is banking on the fact that the vast majority of Americans will quietly sit by and let their government do whatever they want. We have a history of protests in this country, but realistically it's usually a very few Americans protesting. Most just go about their daily routine of being good citizens, raising their family, going to work, school, and church. Obama and the Left didn't expect the negative reaction they received during the town hall meetings. These average Americans spoke out, so Obama did what every good liberal is supposed to do - attack the ones speaking out. They have called town hall attendees unruly mobs, swastika carrying mobs, brown shirts, racists, stupid, blah, blah, blah.

Americans need to keep strongly opposing this administration's attempt to control every aspect of their lives, especially our constitutional right to voice our opinion. This requires a thick skin because they will attack, attack, attack. The best way to look at it is that the more they attack, the more effective you must have been. Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin have been demonized on a daily basis, but they have a backbone and keep speaking out. The usual quiet general populace needs to have that same mentality or otherwise Obama's civilian national security force will be controlling them.

Awesome New Book - To Be A Mother: Adopting God's Heart, By Deanna Jones

2009-08-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

Deanna Jones tells her poignant story of abortion, redemption, and adoption in her new book, To Be A Mother: Adopting God's Heart. It can be ordered only online at tobeamother.com and Amazon.com

“To Be a Mother truly highlights the healing presence of Christ in Deanna’s life. She eloquently travels from her painful past to her redemption and new life in Christ. This book would be an inspiration to any woman, or man, who has suffered, as Deanna has, and is searching for healing.”
—Theresa Burke, PhD, Author of Forbidden Grief: The Unspoken Pain of Abortion Founder, Rachel’s Vineyard Ministries

The following are excerpts from To Be A Mother:
FORWARD:
Aubrey’s Legacy

To Be a Mother reveals how God was always present in my life as I stumbled, struggled, and eventually stood victorious as a mother. My hope is that my story will lift you up from grief, pain, anger, and desperation to a place of spiritual healing. I hope you will see that Jesus is very much alive and eager to come to the aid of His children. I also hope that women who read my story will learn from my mistakes and make decisions that advocate for life. I pray that those who are suffering from intense pain and regret from poor choices will turn to the Lord, knowing that through His love they too can be made white as snow.

CHAPTER ONE:
TO BE A MOTHER

In the 1960s and ’70s, the women’s liberation movement paved the way for many opportunities for women but frowned on a women’s right to chose to be a mother only. The message was clear: women who stayed home to be married and take care of their kids were unhappy. Like a lost and confused child wandering in an unfamiliar neighborhood, I took the advice of people who seemed to have my best interest at heart but weren’t really listening or interested in what I truly wanted. I was eventually lured away from my innocent hopes and dreams into a future that looked promising but ended up being a destructive path.

The women in my life were beautiful and strong, and they encouraged me to go out to find my dream. After all, how else could I support myself? Men were unreliable, and they were not supportive. With no positive male role models in my life, I learned early on that perhaps it was better to move on to plan B—getting a job and making a life for myself.

Even as a little girl I could sing well. So I put everything I could into singing, hoping to become famous and make good money. I knew that if I became a famous singer, then the women I admired so much would be proud of me. In my mind, I had decided that if I became famous first and had the money and security I longed for, then maybe one day way off in the future I could then decide to marry a great man (if there was one out there), have children, and buy a home for myself. In the meantime, I concentrated on perfecting my voice and performance skills. I now had a new passion. I wanted to be a singer. I was intensely motivated and focused, knowing that if I succeeded as a singer, one day I could finally afford the luxury of motherhood.

Chapter 6
Defiance
A Cowardly Choice

I was not courageous. I found an abortion clinic in the yellow pages. I didn’t know anyone who had had an abortion, and I wasn’t going to ask anyone. No one but Bill and the people at the clinic would know about this. In the morning, I was in the abortion clinic scheduling a date for my abortion. I tried to hide my morning sickness and my sadness as I sang happy songs, greeted happy tourists, and danced in the sun. Then I would go home and cry myself to sleep. I longed for there to be a way for me to keep my baby, but I couldn’t find one. I hoped that my boyfriend would love me enough to tell me that he wanted me to be his wife and we could live happily ever after with our baby, but he didn’t.

I named my baby Aubrey (which I later learned appropriately and ironically meant noble and bright). Singing in front of a castle in the blazing sun, I cried out to God to rescue me from this dilemma. I also blamed Him for the predicament I was in. I was scrambling for answers and solutions but could only see one option. I wanted all of my dreams to become a reality. I was hoping for someone to magically come and save me (and my noble, bright, princess Aubrey). But I realized that would never happen.

Chapter 7
Obedience is A Choice

The doctor said nothing to me. I felt a tight pinch and then lost my breath as I heard a vacuum sound. I winced, cringed, and cried. I then felt a silent NOOO! Please don’t take my baby from me! screaming out from my soul. I continued to cry as I listened to the screaming inside of my head and the whoosh of the garbage disposal sound. It was now too late. No one had come to save me. No one cared. I hated myself for destroying Aubrey.

I cried and cried. I felt so angry with myself, God, Bill, and all of the people who could have reached out to save me, but didn’t. Why Lord? Why? Maybe now You will leave me alone forever. You must really hate me now, and that is why You didn’t come. I need You but hate You because You never came. I love You and need You. I am confused, depressed, and sore. And on Friday I have to sing my happy songs.

CHAPTER 9
TO THE GIRL I USED TO BE

Oh, how I wish that I could have been there to protect the sweet nineteen year-old girl of my past. I could have told her that every woman has to battle for her children. I would have told her that there are resources for her. I would have told her that there are other women her age who are going through or have been through a teenage pregnancy who can encourage her. I would have told her that tomorrow is a new day and that hope comes forth in the morning. I would have swooped her up in my arms and made sure that she survived this time in her life. And had she decided to keep her baby, I would have offered to give her financial and emotional help. I pray that anyone out there even today that is suffering will somehow find the strength to reach out for help. I pray that they know that they are not alone.

CHAPTER 11
Samantha

Holding my newborn daughter, in this moment of maternal bliss I realized the lies I had been living. With a fresh clarity, I saw the truth. As I entered into motherhood, I also entered into my healing as a new creation in Christ. When
our baby was born, somehow I knew that God was there. When I looked into my daughter’s eyes, I saw God’s forgiveness to me personified. Samantha was proof to me that God was the sweetest Father ever. She was evidence that He lives, He forgives, and He loves me. A switch was turned on. Suddenly I realized that God wasn’t in fame. God wasn’t in the money and thrill of show business. In the whimpers of my daughter, He was shouting to me, I’m here. You found me.

Chapter 16
WHAT DOES GOD WANT?

What does God want? I prayed so hard as a young adult for God to show me what He wanted for me. I was sure He would give me an amazing career or a creative endeavor that would elevate me somehow in the world’s eyes. I believed that I needed to achieve fame and notoriety in order to receive approval from the world before I could realize my dream of being a mother. But once I gave birth to my daughter Samantha, things changed drastically. I discovered God as my Redeemer and was born again. After the birth of Samantha, I felt that my life could never be more blessed. But then to be engulfed in God’s expansive love with the birth of Andrew was indescribable. After Andrew was born, I was overwhelmed with joy and appreciation for the Father. I didn’t think it would be possible to have any more of God’s love showered on me.

Then, just when I thought I could not take another miracle, God gave me the heaviest burden of my life. It seemed so obvious. Why hadn’t I seen it before? God’s road signs for me were in black in white all over the Bible, spelled out for me to see clearly, especially made most evident in James 1:27 that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. In letting God into my life, asking Him what He wanted for me and longing to adopt His heart, I was now consumed with the unquenchable desire to look after orphans. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t eat. My new consuming passion was adoption.

CHAPTER 19
Three Orphans

I was especially proud of the fact that this little girl was genuinely excited and grateful to be moving on. She never looked back at the orphanage gates but kept her focus forward on the adventure ahead. Grace’s quiet strength and beauty through it all was something to truly behold. On the flight home to America, she only slept for one hour of the sixteen-hour flight and had a huge smile on her face the entire time. When we landed, she asked, Mom, America now? I said America now. She said, Mom, I very happy. I said Me, too. (What an understatement)

Chapter 21
INCONCEIVABLE REDEMPTION

I stand now at the foot of the cross with an exuberant heart, proclaiming, He lives for me. There is inexplicable joy in my heart knowing that Jesus is alive and there is a happy ending after all. God answered all of my prayers. He forgave me and then sweetly and generously gave me the dreams of my heart. I always wanted to be a mother, and now in gratitude I praise Him for showering this sinner with abundant love from my husband and our six beautiful children. However, the greatest gift He gave me is His love, His forgiveness, and a clear understanding that Jesus is the best representation of parental love ever.

Chapter 22
When Does Life Begin

How is aborting a baby liberating? How is aborting a baby empowering? Aborting a baby is the most unnatural and violently destructive thing we can do to ourselves as women. As a woman, my heart and soul naturally longed to hold that child, love that child, and be that child’s mother. In the short time I knew of my pregnancy, I vacillated from wanting to conveniently erase my mistake to imagining diapering and naming the child. But since then I have come to believe not only that life begins at conception, but as a woman it is not serving me or empowering me to allow myself to defy God by defying my body in that way. If we truly want to be empowered as women, then we also need to be willing to speak out against other women who claim to have our best interests at heart but fail to reveal the truth to us.

Chapter 24
A WORLD WITHOUT MOTHERS
The Ultimate Exploitation

The experience of abortion is devastating in a way that wounds every single part of a woman. And of course the worst part is denying an actual person the right to life while also turning a woman who is by nature a life giver into one who takes a life. In the years that followed my own abortion, I began questioning everything relating to a woman’s right to have an abortion.

The truth is, I never would have aborted my baby if abortion were illegal. Today I would be enjoying the company of the daughter that I legally killed. The desperation post-abortion far outweighed the desperation during my brief unplanned pregnancy, and I was so off balance that I felt as if I would never be able to hold onto anything ever again. A part of me was missing and I would never get it back. I would have to live with the loss forever. Alice Paul was right. Abortion is the ultimate exploitation of women.

Observations Of The World We Live In, August 2009

2009-08-16T19:00:00.000-07:00

1. If Obama doesn't care about the life of the unborn (and born baby), why should anyone think he would have a problem pulling the plug on grandma?

2. The backbone of the health care legislation is not health care, but control over people. What is abortion but total control over someone else's life? Obama is the most pro-abortion president ever, so this bill is just an extension of that belief.

3. Obama's town hall meetings are obviously staged events, and the press keeps emphasizing how well-behaved everyone is. First, the organizers are very selective on who gets to speak. Secondly, whatever one thinks about Obama, the office of the president usually gets more respect than a congressman who is directly supposed to represent a specific area.

4. Obama and the liberals are still banking on the gullibility of many Americans to believe anything they say about the health care bill even though what they say is usually contradicted in the bill.

5. Where are all the anti-war protesters? Is Code Pink disrupting meetings and camping out in front of Obama's residence?

6. Ask anyone this question and watch the look on their face: In 36 states it is illegal to kill this group of people, but in all 50 states it is legal. What group of people is it? Watch the following video for the answer:

7. Obama is still campaigning, where one attempts to criticize your opponent. But the president represents all Americans. We may not agree with what he's doing, but he shouldn't demonize at least half of the population. It's the liberal response to anybody taking an opposing view. Do not debate them on the merits of the issue but simply destroy them for having the audacity to disagree with you.

8. The liberals keep spewing the mantra that we need "health care for everyone." But they want to have death care for the unborn. Where are the rights for the unborn?

9. As always, the more liberals react to what a conservative says, then it must have really hit home. Why did they react so strongly to Rush Limbaugh comparing the Obama socialist agenda to the Nazis or when Sarah Palin said that there would be "death panels" if the health care bill passed? Of course, they totally ignored the fact that Nancy Pelosi called town hall participants Nazis, which according to the liberals must be true.

The Difference Between Killing A Wanted Fetus And An Unwanted Fetus

2009-08-10T20:54:00.000-07:00

Pro-Lifers Need To Oppose The Entire Health Care Bill

2009-08-02T04:39:00.000-07:00

President Obama's health care bill must be stopped before being enacted into law. But the method many are using to fight this bill will ensure that it will become law. How are pro-lifers contesting it? Most want specific wording stating that abortion will not be funded. Since abortion is one of the cornerstones of the Obama administration's reasons for enacting this bill, then there's little chance that will happen. Since the main focus of the bill is about control, especially when someone's life should be extended, then abortion fits right in with that belief. With that said, let's assume that abortion funding is strictly prohibited. Pro-lifers will be giving each other high-fives, but WE STILL HAVE THE BILL!

The main argument from members of Congress is the cost of it. It's obvious that the way to get the Blue Dog Democrats and a few others to switch their votes is to just cut a million here, a million there, and then everyone is happy. There's just one problem - WE STILL HAVE THE BILL!

Another argument voiced by those opposed is that Obama and Congress won't be obliged to be in the government health plan. They will keep what they have now. Once again, if the Congress buckles to pressure and places themselves under the same plan as all of us, then what is the big accomplishment? WE STILL HAVE THE BILL!

One needs to look past the marketing of this bill and concentrate on the facts. The main theme throughout is control. This bill will control who gets medical care depending on your worth to society. Two of the possibilities that might be in charge of Obamacare are frightening examples of this belief. A prime candidate is Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, the brother of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. He has already been appointed to two key positions: health-policy adviser at the Office of Management and Budget and a member of Federal Council on Comparative Effectiveness Research.

In Health Affairs, Feb. 27, 2008, Emanuel wrote that the cuts will not be pain-free. "Vague promises of savings from cutting waste, enhancing prevention and wellness, installing electronic medical records and improving quality are merely 'lipstick' cost control, more for show and public relations than for true change."

"Doctors take the Hippocratic Oath too seriously, as an imperative to do everything for the patient regardless of the cost or effects on others." (Journal of the American Medical Association, June 18, 2008).

He also says that medical care should be reserved for the non-disabled, not given to those "who are irreversibly prevented from being or becoming participating citizens . . . An obvious example is not guaranteeing health services to patients with dementia." (Hastings Center Report, Nov.-Dec. '96).

Probably the most incredible appointment is John Holdren as science and technology czar. What does he think about human life?

In John Holdren's book, Human Ecology: Problems and Solutions: "The fetus, given the opportunity to develop properly before birth, and given the essential early socializing experiences and sufficient nourishing food during the crucial early years after birth, will ultimately develop into a human being." Maybe this is why Obama believes that even a baby born alive after a failed abortion should be left to die, since of course it's not human.

It's admirable to fight for or against certain aspects of the bill, but it is so massive that altering it slightly will not have much of an overall effect. This is something that shouldn't be negotiated. The bill should totally be defeated, or we will have a life or death issue for everyone decided by the health care czar and his bureaucrat assistants.

Should The Reasons For Abortion Be Applied To A Born Child?

2009-07-28T16:59:00.000-07:00

Nearly every argument for abortion can be answered in a fairly simple fashion. Whatever the reason for abortion, shouldn't the same reasoning be used to kill a born child? Should the born baby be killed because it interferes with school or work? Should it be destroyed because the parents just can't afford it any more? Should a toddler be murdered because it's not developed like a "normal" child? Of course, the abortion advocate would state that it's not the same because the baby or toddler is already born. By their own admission the baby in the mother's womb can be killed just because it is in another location. Although graphic at times, the following videos are a vivid example of this.

Gendercide In India - The Loss Of The Girl Child

2009-07-21T19:58:00.000-07:00

The following videos tell an incredible story of gendercide in India and those who are trying to change the culture. Thanks to Motherhood In Real Time for bringing this to light.

Who Makes More Sense - A 7-Year-Old Or Obama?

2009-07-18T17:20:00.000-07:00

New Study On The Memory Of The Unborn Baby

2009-07-15T19:35:00.000-07:00

The following is from ScienceDaily.com:

Short-term Memory Found In 30-week-old Fetuses

ScienceDaily (July 15, 2009) — Memory probably begins during the prenatal period, but little is known about the exact timing or for how long memory lasts. Now in a new study from the Netherlands, scientists have found fetal short-term memory in fetuses at 30 weeks.

The study provides insights into fetal development and may help address and prevent abnormalities. Published in the July/August 2009 issue of the journal Child Development, it was conducted by researchers at Maastricht University Medical Centre and the University Medical Centre St. Radboud.

The scientists studied about 100 healthy pregnant Dutch women and their fetuses, measuring changes in how the fetus responds to repeated stimulation. After receiving a number of stimuli, the fetus no longer responds to the stimulus as observed by ultrasonography and the stimulus is then accepted as "safe." This change in response is called "habituation." In a second session, the fetus "remembers" the stimulus and the number of stimuli needed for the fetus to habituate is then much smaller.

Based on their research, the scientists found the presence of fetal short-term memory of 10 minutes at 30 weeks. They determined this because a significantly lower number of stimuli was needed to reach habituation in a second session, which was performed 10 minutes after the first session. They also found that 34-week-old fetuses can store information and retrieve it four weeks later. Fetuses were tested at 30, 32, 34, and 36 weeks, and again at 38 weeks. The 34- and 36-week-old fetuses habituated much faster than the 38-week-old fetuses that had not been tested before. This implies that these fetuses have a memory of at least 4 weeks—the interval between the test at 34 weeks and that at 38 weeks.

"A better understanding of the normal development of the fetal central nervous system will lead to more insight into abnormalities, allowing prevention or extra care in the first years of life and, as a consequence, fewer problems in later life," according to the study's authors.

Journal reference:

MLA Society for Research in Child Development (2009, July 15). Fetal Short-term Memory Found In 30-week-old Fetuses. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 15, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090715074924.htm

Lila Rose's Undercover Investigation Of Planned Parenthood

2009-07-15T16:24:00.000-07:00

Lila Rose of The Mona Lisa Project and Troy King, Attorney General of Alabama, discuss the latest undercover investigation of Planned Parenthood. This aired July 10th on the O'Reilly Factor.

Zo's View Of Abortion

2009-07-09T16:10:00.000-07:00

This video is from AlfonZo Rachel who has Macho Sauce Productions

Michael Jackson, Billy Graham, And The Sidewalk Counselors

2009-07-07T18:36:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson, ad infinitum. The overblown media coverage like this is usually reserved for the passing of former presidents. To put it all in perspective, he was a great entertainer and had some very popular songs, and that was pretty much it. Did he actually change people's lives for the better? I have been a big fan of singers in the past, as most people have, but did they actually change our lives? Without ever hearing their music, would we really have been any different at our core? There is very little likelihood that we would have, just as Jackson's fans wouldn't have been much different at their core if they never heard his music. Now, of course, many will dispute that, but if they base how they have lived their lives by liking Jackson's music, then it's a sad situation. Also, the adulation this person has received is interesting, to say the least, for one who is extremely hedonistic, accused of pedophilia, a drug addict, and in the last 10 to 15 years considered by many to be a freak.

There are those in society that have permanently altered lives for the better that when they die undoubtedly would be lucky to get 10% of the attention that Michael Jackson's death received. Consider that Billy Graham has brought actual transformation to millions of people throughout the world by bringing them to Christ. James Dobson has similarly changed numerous individuals and families for the better with his Focus on the Family organization. Hopefully, these great men will live for many years, but when they pass, can you imagine the lack of attention they will receive by the celebrity-driven media and populace.

Across this country there are a multitude of sidewalk counselors and pro-life advocates, in general, who have actually saved thousands of lives from being destroyed. When these people die, odds are that their local press will not mark their passing except for your normal obituary. But when you think about it, these people have changed more lives than Michael Jackson ever did. How many lives did he save? If he had, it's obvious we would have heard about it by now.

Celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Anna Nichole Smith, and numerous others died in a similar fashion of heavy drug usage and obvious sadness in their lives. Maybe they knew that they didn't deserve all of the attention, but didn't know how to deal with it any other way. Possibly, they might have wished that they were like the unknown sidewalk counselor receiving the internal reward of saving a life. Instead they were on the receiving end of tremendous amounts of adulation from the media and public for often doing little that deserved it.

Couple "Chooses" Not To Get Medical Help For Dying Newborn

2009-07-05T05:03:00.000-07:00

The following is the front page top story from the Albuquerque Journal on July 4. The couple "chose" not to seek medical help for their baby. Why is it not reported when several babies die every day in this city because someone "chose" to have them aborted? Simple answer. The babies were just in a different location than the one in this story.

Saturday, July 04, 2009

Newborn Died While Group Prayed

By Hailey Heinz
Copyright © 2009 Albuquerque Journal
Journal Staff Writer

The parents say their infant's death was the will of God.
Albuquerque police are calling it a "suspicious" death, and the District Attorney's Office must decide if a crime was committed.
A woman attending a church conference in Albuquerque with her husband didn't call for medical treatment while giving birth to twins in a hotel room, even as one of the newborns struggled to breathe, according to a search warrant affidavit.
That child died while church members gathered in prayer. The other child survived, but the parents declined to take the infant to be checked at a hospital.

According to a search warrant affidavit, Samuel and Tammy Kaufman told police at the scene they did not believe in man's medicine, only God, and that their child's death was God's will.
The case could set up a classic clash between child welfare laws and religious beliefs.
According to the affidavit, Tammy Kaufman was pregnant with twins and planned to have them at home. She went into labor suddenly on June 25 at the Sandia Courtyard Hotel and Convention Center at Eubank and Lomas, where the couple was attending a church conference.
According to the search warrant affidavit, the Kaufmans did not seek medical help and only called for rescue personnel to "collect the body" after one of the twins died.
After rescue personnel arrived, the Kaufmans told them the twins were both born alive in the early hours of June 26, but that one of them was "in distress and was struggling to breathe."
Someone in the hotel room where the children were born then called other members of the church group and told them to pray. About 30 minutes later, the other twin also started having trouble breathing, according to the affidavit.
Church group members gathered and started to pray, according to the affidavit, and the second twin's condition eventually improved, while the first twin stopped making noise, stopped breathing and died.
The search warrant is to collect medical evidence. It does not give a hometown for the Kaufmans.
After the child's death, the Kaufmans called rescue personnel to collect the body. A detective on scene advised them to take the living infant to a hospital for an evaluation, but the Kaufmans would not let go of the newborn for treatment, saying they did not believe in man, only God, according to the affidavit.
The Kaufmans could not be reached for comment Friday, and it is unclear what church they belonged to. A group identified as the Church of God had a conference scheduled at Sandia on the day the children were born.
The child's body has been sent to the Office of the Medical Investigator, and investigators are awaiting the results of an autopsy, according to the affidavit.
District Attorney spokesman Pat Davis said the DA's Office is aware of the case but has not been formally presented with the police report.
A recent case in Minnesota garnered national attention when the parents of 13-year-old Daniel Hauser initially refused court-ordered chemotherapy for the boy's Hodgkins lymphoma. The condition has a 90 percent cure rate in children if treated with chemotherapy and radiation, but doctors said Hauser had a 5 percent chance of survival without those treatments.
Hauser's parents cited religious beliefs and side effects of the chemotherapy in opting for natural healing practices. The boy and his mother initially fled Minnesota, but then returned and agreed to the treatments.

Endowed By Our Creator With The Right To Life

2009-07-02T18:50:00.000-07:00

On this Independence Day, it's important to note one of the core passages from The Declaration of Independence and how two of today's leaders have expressed their views of life.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Once Again, The Obvious Hypocrisy Of The Liberals

2009-07-01T17:49:00.000-07:00

The following video is from American Life League: