The Death Penalty for Abortion.

 

Anyone can copy and use all of my posts.

I love to listen to podcasts. As I was looking around for an interesting subject, I came across, The Daily, which is with the New York Times. The subject was, “The Effort to Punish Women for Having Abortions.”

This was a subject I deeply cared about because I have been watching the news on what is happening in the U.S. since Roe vs Wade was struck down. What I have seen has horrified me; trying to force a 10-year-old to carry a child to birth, arresting and deciding to prosecute a mother who bought abortion pills for her teenage daughter, women who are miscarrying being turned away from hospitals because the doctors don’t want to be charged for helping a woman abort a baby.

The next big news was hearing the Christian Right want to take away our right to have contraceptives! This was hard for me to believe, but yes, it is true. It’s part of their plan for women! How is that possible? Are we going to have no right to try to have our babies when we want to? Do these crazy Christians think contraception is a sin? Do they want women to have 10 children in a row? Honestly, I have no idea.

I must tell you I am a Christian. I love Jesus, but I am not crazy, neither do I want my Christian beliefs forced on you or anyone else. Jesus did not force anyone to join his movement, he merely said, “Follow me.” He has given the whole world the choice to be a Christian or not.

But what I heard on this podcast was truly horrific. There are people on the far-Right who want to give women the death penalty for having an abortion. The pastor in this podcast said the women had committed murder and therefore must die. He then quoted the Old Testament of the Bible to defend his reasoning. He said, “An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth.”

Okay, that law was meant for the Jews around 3,000 years ago. God had asked them to be his people, his nation on earth. They agreed to that and so God gave them lots of laws besides the 10 Commandments. These were civil laws, like if someone stole an ox or accidentally killed someone. Every nation needs these kinds of laws. Were those laws for everyone in the world? No. Israel was a Theocracy, God was their ruler. And actually, if you didn’t like all the laws etc. you could just move away to some other country. You weren’t forced to stay.

When Jesus came, he told the people there were new laws now. He did not change the 10 Commandments, but he did abolish all the other laws God established with the Jewish nation. He said, “You have heard it said, ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you (insults you) on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well; and if someone forces you to go one mile, (Roman soldiers did that so someone would help carry his bags) go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from one who wants to borrow from you.”

Jesus continued, “You have heard it said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the evil. If you love those who love you, what reward with you get? Do not sinners do that? If you greet only your friends, what are you doing more than others? Do not pagans do that? But strive to be perfect, as your father in heaven is perfect.”  Matthew 5:38-48

Jesus was starting a new religion, one based on unconditional love. Yes, God loved people in the Old Testament, but times were very different then and God’s laws were actually more merciful than the laws of other nations. I believe God chose his own nation so the memory of God would not be lost down the ages.

Most of the world back then was pagan. They worshipped Baal and Molech who demanded child sacrifice. Sex was part of their religions, which is probably why it was so popular. Most of those nations were not peaceful, they wanted to conquer other nations. There were so many gods in those days, and God needed some people who would write down God’s words and deeds for generations to come.

Okay, so if someone brought to Jesus a woman who had an abortion, what do you think he would have done? It’s very easy – nothing. He would have let her go her way. That’s exactly what he did for a woman who had committed adultery.

The religious leaders (sound familiar) brought a woman caught in adultery. They told Jesus she should be stoned to death as the law of Moses said. Then they asked, “What would you do?” They were testing him.

Jesus did something strange. He bent down and began writing in the dust on the ground. Then he said, “Let him who has never sinned be the first to cast a stone at her.” Then he continued writing on the ground. When the crowd of men heard this, they left one by one. (Some scholars believe he was writing the sins of the men who were accusing her.)

After they left, Jesus stood and asked the woman, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, Lord.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you, now go and sin no more.”

Jesus said at the beginning of his ministry, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that everyone who believes in him shall not die but have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only son.  John 3:16-18

Jesus did not come with judgement at that time. Judgement Day is still in the future where everyone will have to give an account to God for what he has done in this life. Until that day, we should never judge people for religious reasons.

The banning of abortion is the Church joining the State to force their religious beliefs on the whole country, if they can. Religion and State should never unite because to do so always ends in persecution, imprisonment and death. I urge everyone to read the history of religious persecution. It has happened in the past and is happening now, here and in other countries.

I also urge every woman to vote for the Democrats from now on, unless you want to have your rights taken away from you.

The Effort to Punish Women for Having Abortions - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Host: Sabrina Tavernise     Reporter: Elizabeth Dias

 

 

 

Abortion and Jesus.

 

Persecution of the Paulicians.

I don’t think I have ever written about politics in my blog. I don’t believe religion and politics should ever unite. I am a Christian, but I don’t believe my moral decisions should be imposed on other people. I don’t believe there should be another Theocracy like the Jews had and some other countries have. Uniting church and State invariably brings about persecution, imprisonment and death. This has happened throughout history.

Do I think God wants abortion? I doubt he does. Should we make it illegal? I don’t think so. I think it has already been made plain what is going to happen if we do. So my beliefs are different than many other Christians.

Everyone knows the story of the 10-year-old girl who was raped and then pregnant. That state wanted to force her to have the child. A 10-year-old! My cousin had a baby at 14 and her insides were so ruined she could never have another child. Even leaving out the child, most pro-lifers want women to have the baby even if the mother would die! Even if the baby is so deformed it can’t live!

I think the worst thing about pro-lifers is their attitude towards the pregnant woman. They seem gleeful when they talk about sending her to jail. Doctors are scared spitless about being charged of aiding an abortion and won’t help women who are having a miscarriage. Women are already suffering terrible pain and great fear they won’t be believed if they say they didn’t try to lose the baby. Meanwhile the Christians are rejoicing.

I heard a man on a podcast say that he was glad about the new law but that the church better stop sending money to missionaries and instead take care of the babies and mothers. I thought, “Does he really think churches will do that?” How much money does it take to raise a child? What if the mom can’t find a job or even if she does are they going to help her pay for rent, utilities, clothes and food? How much will that be a month? Rent is so high right now it’s creating thousands of homeless people.

What would Jesus do? What would he do if he found out a woman had an abortion? I’ll tell you what he would do, forgive her and help her. Would he put her in prison? Who could honestly say Jesus would do that? Never, he would never do that. Read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Perhaps if Christians, all these years that abortion was legal, had helped women who were pregnant.  Perhaps if they had offered to take them in, supply their needs and just simply loved these women. Could they have saved babies from death? Yes. But they didn’t do it.

Global Warming and God.

 

Because many people can see global warming is killing the planet, I feel compelled to tell people about the words of God who has warned us of this for thousands of years. He spoke through different men who wrote down what he said.

Jesus warns us of what will happen at the end of time, he said, “For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again. If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.”

“At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible. See, I have told you in advance.”

“So, if they tell you, ‘There He (Jesus or the Messiah) is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days:

‘The sun will be darkened,

and the moon will not give its light;

the stars will fall from the sky,

and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”

“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you will know that He is near, right at the door. Matthew chapter 24.

Isaiah writes, “The earth mourns and withers;
the world languishes and withers;
the highest people of the earth languish.

The earth lies defiled
under its inhabitants;
for they have transgressed the laws,
violated the statutes,
broken the everlasting covenant.

Therefore, a curse devours the earth,
and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt;
therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched,
and few men are left.”   Isaiah 24:4-6

Jesus said, “On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”   Luke 21:25-28

Peter wrote, “But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.”

“Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness 12as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.  But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”   2 Peter 3:4-6

God says, “I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”   Acts 2:19-21  I would say the sun turned to darkness is because of the smoke of fires and the moon looks like blood when there are massive fires.

Isaiah writes, “And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falls off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.”   Isaiah 34:4

 

All through the Bible, God warns us against sinning and asks us to repent and come to him. All through each person’s life, God speaks to them in their conscience. He works year after year on stubborn hearts, not wanting to give up. But he also gave us free choice. We can go to him for help and salvation or we can say, “No thanks. I want to live my life my way.”

The Lord says, “For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!   Ezekiel 18:32

“As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?”   Ezekiel 33:11

I gave my life to God when I was nineteen. It was the best thing I’ve ever done. Life has been painful for me, but when I think of how my life would have been without Jesus, I know I would have died by suicide or worse. If you give your life to him, you will never regret it. You will join his family and be a son or daughter of God and live forever where all your deepest desires will come true.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wrestling with God.

 

Art by Maurice Denis.

I thought I would share something that has been very helpful in my walk with God. About 10 years ago, I was very depressed, day after day. One morning I said to God, “I’m not leaving this bed until I feel better.” So, I lay there telling God all my feelings and all the things going on in my life that made me sad. I asked for courage to face the day and for some kind of hope.

After maybe an hour, I did feel better and got up. That one lesson taught me what it meant to wrestle with God. I remembered Jacob who in the Bible, wrestled with God all night. When God said to him, “Let me go for it is morning.” Jacob said, “I won’t let you go until you bless me.”

I would have thought that a bit presumptuous, but God didn’t. He asked, “What is your name?” 

“Jacob,” he replied.

God said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, (Def: He struggles with God.) because you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

I’m not a Bible scholar. I’m not altogether sure what Jacob’s struggle means except that when I told God I wouldn’t stop praying until I felt better, my circumstance felt similar to his. Jacob was trapped by his brother coming to meet him, perhaps with the intent to kill him. I was trapped by my sad feelings that would not go away.

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  John 14:27

We All Die. Jesus Came Down to Die With Us.

I listen to the podcast, “Theology in the Raw,” which is hosted by Preston Sprinkle. He interviews people with questions on hot-button issues of the day. He delves deep into controversial subjects within the churches. What I like most about Preston is his willingness to hear new ideas of belief and how Christians should act towards those who are usually not accepted.

Recently, I listened to an interview he had with Christian Gonzalez, a Greek Orthodox believer who works in Youth and Young Adult Ministries. I knew nothing about the beliefs of the Greek Orthodox church, so I was interested to learn what they are.

I came away very moved by what he said was the main thrust of his faith. It is that Jesus didn’t just die for us, he died with us. In this world, we are all under the sword of death. He came to become one of us part of that was experiencing death.

This meant a lot to me because I have always believed God was responsible for me being here on this earth. I used to say to him, “If you’d have given me a choice, I would have said, ‘No thanks.’ I was pretty bitter and angry about my life and the suffering I’d gone through and the suffering I was still going through. I know this is the wrong attitude for me to have, but it is there in my heart. I give it to God and ask for peace, joy and love within. He gives it to me, but I need to ask every day or I will return to my old thinking.

Jesus dying for us was an enormous sacrifice. He didn’t die like all other people because he took the sins of the world upon him and had to pay for them with mental suffering. The Bible says he became sin for us, that he became cursed. This meant God the Father had to abandon Jesus as he died on the cross. This is why he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He died the death of evil, sinful people. He took their place in judgement. Like someone owed a huge debt to the bank and couldn’t repay and was going to lose everything, Jesus stepped up and paid it all.

But Jesus dying with us seems different to me. Immanuel: God with us. It feels to me like kinship and understanding what we all go through. None of us here on earth asked to be born here and God is the great creator of all things. Therefore, because we suffer, he suffered as he walked the earth. He was rejected and misunderstood by most people, even by his own brothers, who thought he had lost his mind. I believe he was lonely, sad and sometimes even afraid. I say that because he asked his Father that if it was possible, he would take the cross away. Obviously, there was no other way, even for God.

After listening to the podcast, I talked with God about this and a verse from the Bible popped into my head. It was when Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me.” I took that to mean, each of us has a cross. What does a cross represent? I would say sorrow, suffering, pain, dying, and humiliation. Most of us go through these things in our life, if we live long enough. And when Jesus says to pick the cross up and follow him, where is he going? He is going to die and we have to do that also. In fact, Paul says, “We die daily.” And “Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.” This is a death of our sinful nature.

We can’t do that without God, who changes our hearts and makes it possible. We just have to talk with God each day, asking for his life to be in us and to make us like Jesus. This is actually a great adventure, if we look at it like that. Of course, I didn’t, I was either mad or depressed. I feel much better now. I think it’s because when my first grandson died, I felt how God helped me cope with that. I know now that he is always there for me helping me through life.

 

 

 

 

 

Multiple Sclerosis : A True Story of Hope and Healing.

 My husband and I watched a documentary on Disney called, “Living Proof.” It is about a young man who was told he had MS when he was only twenty. By the end of the show, he is forty with no symptoms and is healthy and strong. I wanted to share this in case there are people with MS who have never heard of this documentary.

MS documentary Living Proof available on Amazon Prime - Modern Day MS

Don't Be Afraid of Your Fears.

 

One of my greatest fears has been to become sick enough to go to the hospital. I have social phobia and other mental problems, and the thought of being unclothed and being touched by people horrified me.

One evening, I started to have pain in my upper abdomen and down my right side. I thought it was another kidney stone. I had passed one many years ago and it felt the same. I knew what to do and waited for it to pass. But it didn’t. The pain wouldn’t let up, and in the morning, I called an ambulance.

The emergency was crowded and I was put in a waiting room. I didn’t ask for pain medication. I didn’t even think of it, I don’t know why. But later, they could see I was in pain and they gave me a shot of something.

I was there at 8:30 am and after tests I was told I needed my appendix out. I had surgery at 9:30 pm and it all went well. Then they took me to a room that had one other patient – a man.

I was molested by my father so usually I would have been terrified to be in a room alone with a man. But he had just had heart surgery and was in pain, so I figured he wasn’t a danger. He was arguing with the nurses and then a doctor about his pain medication. He said it wasn’t strong enough. I felt sorry for him and also the doctor and nurses. There are two sides to giving and getting pain killers and I understand the complexities.

After the medical staff left the room, this man began talking with me. He was very outgoing and personable. I’m usually upset when people talk to me, but I wasn’t this time. I felt comfortable, and we shared a lot of information about our lives. Also, he was polite enough to ask me if I minded talking and I told him I was fine with it.

I won’t give any details, suffice it to say his wife was in stage 4 cancer and he had a bad heart. He had just retired and they had bought an RV and kayak so they could enjoy their remaining life together. Then illness struck both of them.

I am not one to preach religion to others. I know most people do not appreciate that. But this man was very sad and contemplating the end of their lives. His hope was gone.

I had been praying silently for God to help me help him, and when he told me what he was feeling about death, I asked him, “Do you believe in God?” He told me he didn’t. He and his wife had been upset by the way religious people treated other people and they had left their church. Recently though, his wife had gone back.

He told me he figured he would be going to an eternal hell. I told him I did not believe God would torture people for an eternity. I told him I study the Bible for myself and make up my own mind what God is like. The Bible says the wicked will be ashes under the soles of our feet and that he will destroy the wicked and their works. It also says death and hell will be thrown into a lake of fire. This means death and the grave will be gone forever. I know there are a few verses that give the impression of an everlasting hell like: “The smoke of their torment will ascend forever.” But smoke is a result of fire and I believe this means the results of sin will always be remembered so that no one ever sins again. All of heaven will know the results of rebelling against God.

We talked a bit more about God and then went to sleep. I was happy I could share my belief in God with this man. My heart felt entwined with his since we were talking about the most important thing about life: why we are here and what happens after death. I thanked God for the opportunity.

I learned a lot by staying in the hospital. Number One: I don’t need to be afraid for God is with me. I didn’t feel afraid the whole time I was there. Number Two: There was a reason for my appendix problem. God wanted me to talk with that man.

What is interesting is that during my stay in the waiting room my daughter phoned the hospital to ask how I was doing. The staff told my daughter they had no one in the hospital by my name. She kept calling during the day and they kept saying the same thing. By the fourth call, my daughter got angry and insisted they look and see if they could find me.

They did finally find me. After the pain medication, a nurse had moved me to a recliner so I could lay back and rest. It was cold in there, so they gave me a blanked with which I covered my body and face. I promptly fell asleep. So, they could have called my name out and I wouldn’t have heard them.

Late in the afternoon, a nurse came and took the blanket off my face and asked my name. So, I guess that was when they found me. All this was quite an experience, and I want to add the nurses and doctors were wonderful and kind.

That’s the story of my hospital stay. My greatest fear came to me and God showed me he is stronger and wiser than my fear. I praise and thank him for everything. He is so much more than we could ever ask or think. He is King and Lord of the universe, my God, my Father, my Brother, my Counselor, my Comforter and Strength.