Paraclete February 2011

The new RFL site is online!! Check it out!

To register on the new site, go to www.rflonline.org and click the “Request Login” link, you will receive password and confirmation information via email to get you logged in!

• Renewal For Life’s NEW website is live! To register on the new site, go to www.rflonline.org and click the “Request Login” link, you will receive a new password and confirmation information via e-mail to get you logged in. Or e-mail jrichard@lutheransforlife.org and she will set up your registration for you.
• Join the RFL Forum! Click on the FORUM banner in the RFL site. Log in using the same username and password as the RFL site. Then join a group. To join, click on the “Groups” tab and browse groups. We have a Forum started for both pastors and Life Advocates!

Some Devotional Thoughts
Feel free to share these thoughts from Dr. Lamb. Offer them to be used for devotions for meetings or in other settings. Print them out and make them available to others. Include them in your church newsletter or on your church website. They are yours for the using.

I admit that I like shoveling snow. I recommend it highly, especially to pastors and others who serve in vocations that do not always provide immediate feedback and you cannot always see the fruits of your labor. When you shovel snow you have the gratification of immediately seeing what you have accomplished. Plus you have the added bonus of being in fresh air and getting exercise. Later on, your muscles also remind you of what you have accomplished! But it is one of those, “It hurts so good” situations. As I watch the weather reports, it seems clear that God is providing this opportunity to more and more of our country! Take advantage of it!

You are part of a ministry that does not always see the results of what we do. We produce all kinds of educational materials, we speak in a variety of places, and write articles for various publications. Life Advocates and pastors make plans, use educational resources, distribute materials, hold worship services, teach Bible studies, and it does not always seem like there are results. Nevertheless, since all that we do is Word-based and Gospel-centered, we know that the Lord of Life works through these things when and where He pleases to accomplish His will. He just doesn’t file activity reports on all that He is up to!

“So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

But every once in awhile God does give us a glimpse of what He accomplishes through His Word of Life. At the end of 2010, we received an above “normal” number of e-mails and phone calls thanking us for making a difference in people’s lives. Among these were three post-abortive women from different parts of the country who had recently heard LFL presentations which changed their lives. A comment from one of them summarizes all of them. “I feel a lightness to my heart that has been gone for many years. You have given me hope and directed me back to God.”

We heard from an infertile couple who were anguishing over their situation and their struggles with various infertility treatments until they read “Hope for the Infertile Couple” from our GWFL Bible. They are now joyfully pursuing adoption.

A pastor called to thank us for help we had given him on the phone while he was dealing with a difficult end-of-life issue. The advice and materials we provided were just what he needed to help this family.

Another pastor, new in the ministry, called to thank us for our help in dealing with a family that didn’t think he should be teaching about abortion in confirmation class. “They have made a complete turn around and apologized.” They are now actually advocates for teaching this in confirmation!

Just recently a pastor thanked us for our Life Sunday focus this year (“Brilliant” is how he described it!) and how he has already used it in a visit with a member to help her change her mind from looking at things from a political perspective to looking at these issues from a biblical, Gospel-centered perspective.

I just wanted you all to know that God’s Holy Spirit is using LFL—all of us at all levels—to make a difference. Thank you for being His willing instruments and thank you for helping us serve the Lord of Life in this way. Do not be discouraged! He is at work through His Word of Life.

Equipping Gospel-motivated Voices For Life All Year Long!

The church and calendar years offer many opportunities to share the For Life message! Here are just a few examples of resources that can help! Contact LFL if you need more info. Order resources from CPH.

The Annunciation (March 25):

Bulletin insert

Sermon

Service

Brochure

Mother’s Day (May 8):

Bulletin insert

Bulletin insert

The Ascension (June 2):

Bulletin insert

Sermon

Service

Father’s Day (June 19):

Bulletin insert

Bulletin insert

Life Advocate Team Training – Links on the RFL Website

Helpful links have been added to each of the main topics on the RFL website (www.RFLonline.org).Look down in the left hand corner of the main page for each topic. Here is a brief explanation of each. Remember, some of these sites are not LFL sites and these links do not mean we endorse everything on the site. But we feel they can be very helpful and useful.

Abortion: The Alan Guttmacher Organization
Beware, this is the research arm of Planned Parenthood, so we most certainly do not endorse the other things on this site, but many For-Life folks use their statistics. It is sometimes good to get statistical data from the other side. They can’t argue with it then!

Adoption: Lutheran Adoption Network
LAN is a national collaboration of 29 Lutheran social ministry organizations that are active in both international and domestic adoptions.

After the Abortion: Word of Hope
Word of Hope is LFL’s post-abortion ministry that exists to bring the healing found in Christ to those whose hearts have been broken by abortion. They receive nearly 300 calls per month on their hotline―888-217-8679. Their free brochure should be available in every Lutheran congregation. Order Word of Hope brochure from CPH. Some congregations put them in the women’s restroom. If they are displayed elsewhere, a good way to point them out is to say something like, “If you want to learn more about how abortion affects the women who have them or if you know of someone struggling with an abortion decision in their past, please take one.” This gives those who want one for themselves permission to do so without “being noticed.”

Biotechnology: The Christian Medical and Dental Association
The focus of this group is to help medical professionals merge their spiritual beliefs with their professional practice. However, their Issues and Ethics section provides good resources for many of the biotech issues.

Sexual Purity: Titus 2 For Life
Headed by LFL’s past president, Linda Bartlet, Titus 2 encourages men and women to live in this present age eager to glorify God and mentor generations of hope.

Christian Responsibility: Family Research Council
Family Research Council (FRC) advances 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.

Contraception: Christian Life Resources’ “The Christian and Birth Control”
Christian Life Resources is the counterpart of LFL in the Wisconsin Synod. Their executive director, Rev. Robert Fleishmann, wrote this series which is very well done and very helpful.

Creation: Answers in Genesis
Answers in Genesis is a catalyst to bring reformation by reclaiming the foundations of our faith which are found in the Bible, from the very first verse. They provide extensive resources addressing the truth of the biblical account of Creation for all ages. Their founder, Ken Ham, has spoken at an LFL conference in the past.

End of Life: Patients Rights Council
From their website: “The Patients Rights Council is committed to the principle that you have the right to know all the facts about the critical issues of life, death, and assisted suicide. Few issues are as important as the compassionate treatment and care for those who are most vulnerable.
Our primary responsibility is to offer understanding and practical support to those who are facing critical situations for themselves or a loved one.
Our second responsibility is to provide the public with rational, factual information about the results of doctor-prescribed suicide and euthanasia.”

Family Living: Focus on the Family
You have heard of this group! From their website: “Focus on the Family is a global Christian ministry dedicated to helping families thrive. We provide help and resources for couples to build healthy marriages that reflect God’s design, and for parents to raise their children according to morals and values grounded in biblical principles.”

Life Quotes

Life Thoughts

Life Quotes and Life Thoughts can also be found on the Home page in the Renewal For Life library.