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| Have you checked out the RFL Forum yet? For updated posts and comments, be sure to JOIN A GROUP!!! Please e-mail jrichard@lutheransforlife.org for any assistance. | |
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Some Devotional Thoughts by Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb It was an unimaginably great evil. “My name is Legion, for we are many” (Mark 5:9). When you consider that a Legion consisted of four to six thousand Roman soldiers, an incomprehensible evil possessed this man who lived among the tombs in the country of the Gerasenes (Mark 5:1-20). He could not be contained. He wrenched apart chains and broke shackles as if string. “No one had the strength to subdue him” (4). That is, until Jesus came along! Just the sight of Jesus compels him to submit, falling on his face before the unimaginably great goodness and power of the “Son of the Most High God” (7). A single command compels the demons to leave, cast, at their request, into a herd of swine nearby. The herd promptly stampedes off a cliff and drowns in the depths of the sea (13). I’m not sure the demons had this part in mind, but the great evil is gone and the man freed. Abortion is our Legion. Unimaginable evil. Incomprehensible evil. Indeed, our evil is greater than Legion, for those who favor it call it good and many of us who abhor it sometimes forget how evil it is. We try to chain it with laws—and that’s good—but laws get struck down or changed. We try to shackle it by electing like-minded leaders—and that’s good too—but politicians have a way of misplacing priorities. Casting out unimaginable evil requires unimaginable power—“The Son of the Most High God.” So why hasn’t Jesus put an end to abortion and sent this evil to the swine? Since we Christians are His body here on earth, perhaps we should ask ourselves that question. Do we ignore this evil because it’s too political? Do we give up on this evil because it’s too big? Yes, unfortunately, we do both. But be encouraged! For we have the power of the Son of the Most High God at our finger tips in His holy Word. His Word has the power first of all to change the hearts of His own people so they will see abortion for the evil against life and the Author and Redeemer of life that it is. His Word has the power to move people to speak up for those who cannot speak and to reach out to those dealing with crisis pregnancies. His Word has the power to convict His people to bring their influence to bear upon society in a courageous, Gospel-motivated, and life-affirming way. His Word has the power to change people and changed people will change society. His power also frees those who have succumbed to this evil and are possessed by its guilt and shame. As one of our Life Team members pointed out during a devotion on these verses, the imagery of the pigs plunging into the sea reminds us God’s great promise in Micah 7:19, “He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” God, of course, did not use pigs to do this. He used His only Son. Jesus bore our sin on the cross and plunged Himself into the depths of God’s wrath in our place. Through faith in this crucified and living Lord, our sins are gone, paid for, drowned. Abortion is Legion, an unimaginable evil, but no match for the power of a single Word from the lips of Jesus. Our prayer is that His Holy Spirit would embolden His Church to speak His Word of truth against this evil and send it into the swine, and that His Church would speak His Word of hope to those seduced by it and send their sin into the depths of the sea. My ongoing thanks for your help in equipping Lutherans with the power of the Gospel to confront the evil of abortion, and all the evils against life that it has spawned. You help share the only power that will really make a difference in the lives of people and in bringing change to our world. |
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Election 2012
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9 NIV). Resources Audio/Video: Life Issues in the Pew. This video featuring Rev. Dr. Kevin E. Voss, M.Div., D.V.M., Ph.D. Director, Concordia Bioethics Institute, Concordia University, Wisconsin, speaks on the Gospel and Christian ethical decision making. In the Teaching Tools section you will find the supplemental worksheet for this presentation. Bible Studies: Yeah, It’s Time to Speak … but. Written by Dr. James Lamb, executive director of Lutherans For Life. “Yeah butting” is a popular pastime for many of us. “Yeah butting” is reluctantly admitting that something may be true and good but then offering a negative spin on it. We do it best with the weather. “Sure is a nice day.” “Yeah, but it’s suppose to rain tonight.” It is hard to have a conversation about the weather, even among friends, without a good deal of “yeah butting” going on. It is hard to have a conversation about abortion, even among Christians, without a good deal of “yeah butting” as well. It is an issue that has so polarized our nation that many people just do not want to talk about it. “Yeah, I know it is wrong but…” In this Bible study we will look at some of the common “yeah buts” about abortion and see if they stand up in light of Scripture.” Essays and Articles: You Have Unearned Moral Worth, by Reverend Wesley J. Smith. “The sanctity of life ethic, also known as the equality of life ethic, is the fundamental pillar upon which Western Civilization rests. It was the underlying source from which so much freedom has sprung over the last two thousand years. It is so fundamental to our values, our laws, and our mutual cohesiveness as a society that I call it The Ethic.” Brochures: Defending the Right to Choose; Is Abortion an Election Issue; Broken Walls. (Order at www.CPH.org.) The Renewal For Life site, will guide you to the site if you click on Brochures in the Christian Responsibility section. Teaching Tools: supplemental worksheets for DVDs Worship Resources: Living and Defending, a Life Sunday sermon by Reverend Laurence White. Link: On the main resource page of the Christian Responsibility tab, there is a link to the Family Research Council website. Since 1983, Family Research Council (FRC) has advanced faith, family, and freedom in public policy and public opinion. FRC’s team of seasoned experts promotes these core values through policy research, public education on Capitol Hill and in the media, and grassroots mobilization. For more information click the FRC icon. |
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One-Cent Sale on Selected Life Sunday and Just For Kids Bulletin Inserts!
Our remaining stock of selected Life Sunday and Just For Kids inserts are on sale! Stock up now and save―and share the For Life message all year long! The Just For Kids inserts are a great way to share the For Life message with children. They are a great resource for Sunday school, VBS, children’s coloring bags, and more! |
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Life Sunday Bulletin Insert Sale
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Just For Kids Bulletin Insert Sale |
| Click on the links above or go to www.cph.org. | |
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50% Off on LFL Promotional Products!
All of our remaining stock of promotional products are on sale at 50% off! Order today and share this summer at local fairs, events, VBS, and summer Sunday school! Quantities are limited.
PENS (“God Loves Life”) – This popular and comfortable tri-sided pen has different Lutherans For Life information on each of the three sides including “God Loves Life – John 3:16.” This pen will never roll off the table! Black ink, medium point, blue translucent coloring, black ergonomic grippers, metal tip. STICKERS – Pass these out for all to wear at an event or service. Dress up an envelope or letter. (1½” x 2¼”) LFL LOGO PIN – Simple design on blue enamel. TOTE BAGS (Plastic) 11″ x 15″ – Great for fairs and conventions. BALLOONS (9″) Sorry, balloons are sold out.
Click on the links above or go to www.cph.org. |
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Adopted in Christ – National Lutherans For Life Conference
Before we know it, it will be time for our 2011 National Lutherans For Life Conference!
Be sure to check out the 2011 National Conference page. Of course, you can register online, but there are also some great interviews with keynote speaker Dr. Russell Moore and singer Heather Ruesch.
There is still time to send in your Witness Book Sponsorship! See the links below.
Date: August 5-6, 2011
Where: Irving, Texas
Theme: Adopted in Christ
Scripture: “[W]hen the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV). Learn More and Register Online
This year’s conference will focus on helping participants grow in their understanding of what it means to be Adopted in Christ and how this action of our heavenly Father affects our relationships with one another and the manner in which we deal with life issues in our congregations.
One way to support LFL and help keep conference costs under control is to include a Witness Sponsorship in the conference book―and encourage others to do the same! Check out these links for more info:
Download 2011 Witness Book Sponsorship Cover Letter Download 2011 Witness Book Sponsorship Contract
The conference is also a great opportunity for exhibitors. Find out more at this link:
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Life Quotes and Life Thoughts can also be found on the Home page in the Renewal For Life library. |
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