"JAMES" AT 14 (WEEKS, THAT IS...)

....... (or NOT AN UNVIABLE TISSUE MASS)!

A REAL BABY AT 14 WEEKS - NOT "AN UNVIABLE TISSUE MASS" BUT A PERSON!

The birth of your children is one of the special moments of any person’s life. There is almost no greater feeling. One can think of the real defining moments of life: such as when you were saved/born again/rejuvenated or converted from a person bound for hell into a son or daughter worthy to be associated – for eternity – with the Creator of the World, the Lord Jesus Christ.  But there is something phenomenal, natural and instinctive about a baby – marveling at a new born, holding a toddler and raising many of them which lands life’s precious moments close to the top of the list.

However there is something even more incredible, these days – seeing a live baby – A LIVE BABY IN THE WOMB! I remember the ultra sounds of my own children from the 1990’s and they were nothing as defined and crystal clear as they are today.  Modern technology has developed to bring the issue of life to a crossroads where there can be no doubt as to just WHO and what is in the mother’s womb!  These photos are from the just concluded LIVE ultrasound at the Springfield Illinois Lifetime Pregnancy Center (now called LIFETIME) dinner of a pregnant mother with a 14 week old baby in her womb.  These photos are also from a jumbo projection screen from a projector which was NOT HD (high def), the image is stunning, affirming and absolutely real!

14 week old baby with a terrific beating heart facing foward on the new Samsung Ultrasound Machine

A fourteen week old baby (or fetus in the other people’s language) is only a 3 ½ month baby and is only one third of the way to being born into the world.  Yet the pro-abortion rights side from Judges to juvenile politicians and academics and liberal mainline protestant clergy will have you believe these are “unviable tissue masses”. Their lost estate continues to such a moronic extent that they try to indoctrinate others to believe that life does not begin until a baby is born or out of the womb. You see they have to concoct fables like this to convince their dark souls and consciences that they are not really destroying a human being when they commit abortion – midterm or late term.

Anyone who has seen one of these new high-tech ultrasound machines, if they had any vestige of decency and conscience left, would immediately become pro-life.  This is what is happening 90% of the time when pregnant women are given the opportunity to see an ultra sound image  of their child. They immediately change their minds and carry the baby to full-term. God has written His law in EVERY heart of every human who ever lived. Therefore, so the majority of women instinctively know this is a real live baby which they just cannot terminate to their eternal horror and shame.  The remaining 10%  who proceed anyway, will answer for their deeds on Judgment Day, that is – unless they completely repent and have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

The baby's back with fully formed spine and limbs clearly visible

The photos here are from a live ultra sound of a baby with a beating heart. The baby’s complete body is identifiable from head to spine to hands to feet.  You cannot tell if this baby is an author, a scientist, a tennis player or a violinist.  But one thing is certain – God created this baby. God knows the baby’s name.  God knows the baby’s every minute on this earth. He knows how many hairs on the head. He knows the child’s entire future. Why? Because birth begins at conception and He knows your name and mine. He knows our every thought because He knew us from the foundations of the earth.

Psalm 139: 13 says “For You formed me in my inward parts, You covered me in my mother’s womb”…and God says in Jeremiah 1:5a “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you”. To the extent that liberals re-define God’s handiwork on earth, it is only for the present… while man is still in charge, for the brief time left for all humanity in this life. There is coming a day when all creation will rejoice and life will return to its original intent – Eternal Glory of the One True God and King – Who  created Heaven and Earth and all living things.  In that day as well, the almost 60 million babies, whose lives were ended by legal abortion since 1973 will be restored and ushered into the Father’s presence to enjoy eternity. What a day that will be!

IMPORTANT LINKS: 
1. LIFETIME PREGNANCY HELP CENTER
2. NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF FAMILY AND LIFE ADVOCATES

REFLECTIONS ON THE RING - A BOOK REVIEW

An Ordinary Woman’s Extraordinary Tale of How She Saved Her Marriage and Family 

by Lori Columbo Dunham

One of the more outstanding features of the close-knit families of America's melting pot is

continuity. Continuity, as described in traditional values or "just like my grandma did it" or "this is just how we always did it in my family" or "the old country".  Being a traditionalist myself, observing this quality in others brings quiet satisfaction, in times of rejoicing with those who carry on this lifestyle. This kind of tradition is what Lori Columbo imagined, or even expected, as she visualized her story-book wedding...with the Church, and the priest and the flowers, bridesmaids - the whole enchilada (to mix ethnic metaphors).

Oh, how one little escapade can change the direction of an entire life! This true story of the young woman from Michigan who unexpectedly became pregnant in 2001 will make both make you sad, squirm and even shed a tear while praying this does not happen to anyone you know. It is a bit unusual for a man like me to be reading what some may term a book version of "a chick flick", but it is a gripping tale where even a hard-nosed preacher like me started wondering "well, how is this going to turn out"?

Reflections on the Ring took a lot of soul-searching, courage and yes, faith to write. It was encouraging to me to see how Lori never stepped away from her traditional faith and turned it into something proactive that will impact her family for decades to come. I will encourage the reader to grasp the conundrum she faced when transitioning from her dream wedding to the nightmarish, almost mind-altering experience of getting married in a South Florida courthouse in front of a Judge! Her emotional conflicts and anxiety come over in the book as she tries to come to terms with marrying a man who bought her a Cubic Zirconia wedding ring! Here she was, with her 110 year old heirloom wedding ring from her great- grandmother, having recently given up a 2.5 carat engagement ring from a man she discovered she did not love, just to marry Dave in a cold impersonal courtroom. Could this get any more mind-boggling?

To her credit and here is where the minister in me warmed up to Lori, the person - she turned to the only Place she could find comfort and even peace. Even when things were darkest.... Even when bills were tough to pay.... Even when Dave was tough to love, she kept the Faith. What I loved about this "page-turner" is the various Scripture references therein, which are placed strategically along the narrative to tie into what was occurring at the time in Lori's life! More impressive was her reliance on the writings from the wonderful prayer ministry of Stormie Omartian, with whom I am acquainted through my association (from 2006) with the Colorado-based National Day of Prayer Task Force. Stormie was once a speaker at one of our prayer summits up in the amazing Rocky Mountains, where praying to our Glorious God comes really easy (after one beholds the majestic mountains).

Stormie's books and instructions on prayer and coping with life in general and specific situations guided Lori through the rough first years of her marriage, which are always the crucial years - the foundation, if you will. You know, a lot of women marry men promising themselves they will change this or that trait or behavior. Some even promise themselves and their families they will convert a non-believing spouse to the Christian faith. That almost never works. But what is evident in this book is with the right heart, proper wisdom guided by Godly experience (Stormie Omartian), miracles do happen. Families do stick together. Miracles babies are born into loving homes. All of this brings hope. In a time of so much evil and darkness and anxiety, I recommend "REFLECTIONS ON THE RING" to you. It is a sincere recommendation because no matter what stage a relationship may be in, something can be learned, affirmed or just revealed from reading about another's walk through life.

Here is a passage from Lori Columbo-Dunham's book which I found very uplifting and beautiful. May it encourage you to pick it up and spend a couple hours reading it:

● When the unexpected happens, lead with your gut, follow your heart, trail with your head.

● Live by your conscience and take responsibility for your actions.

● Be conscious and respectful of his built-in psychological need to escape to his cave when warranted.

● Always be prepared for God’s destiny for you especially when it seems to contradict your own plans for your life.