Pregnancy Crisis Centers

I am going to be taking a course for post abortive women called "Tender Mercies". We start on 9/24. I am very excited about it. I am being offered this class through Durham's Pregnancy Support Services (a crisis pregnancy center). I am also planning on becoming a volunteer there.

Today South Dakota announced this really cool program with churches called LAMPSTAND. They are determined to make women know that they have support in the churches for their unplanned pregnancies. THey want to have 800 churches signed up...check it out... http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/834457812.html I will move to South Dakota if I end up not liking NC. I will endure the cold just to live in a state filled with powerful pro life advocates.

When I was pregnant the women at the abortion clinic warned me not to go into a pregnancy crisis center because I would be kidnapped and not allowed to leave. If you go to http://www.teenwire.com which is Planned Parenthood's teen site, you will read all kinds of lies regarding Pregnancy support centers etc.

Currently, women gravitate to the only place they know of to go when they become pregnant (Planned Parenthood's abortion clinics)..If we can just get an army of support for these women and word out of where to go when their pregnancies happen we will see a huge difference in the amount of abortions...

Deanna

Emotional Choice!

There is so much discussion all the time with how much thought goes into the decision to abort. Most people say ( and barack obama recently said it) that women put great thought into their abortions. i don't think that is true. Is it really true? We seem to claim a position based on conversations we have with people in our lives who may fall on either side of the equation. For me, my family was mostly pro choice. We are hugely influenced too by the people we love.
AND as far as abortion goes i am learning that so many people just identify themselves to be either for choice or life without really spending anytime researching both positions. I also believe that once you are in that position you make your choice from a place of emotion and desperation. So, if you don't spend time really getting some great information from both sides prior to being in the scary position to be a pregnant teen then you gravitate toward the easy choice. It really takes so much more courage to have the baby. I knew that . I knew I wouldn't be strong enough to sacrifice my career and life and that abortion was easier than setting up an adoption plan. And what is really sad is that the churches are still very reluctant to really delve into the subject with the exception of the annual sanctity of life sunday. They just are so afraid to really talk about it..AND YET PLANNED PARENTHOOD has a marketing budget. So when a young woman or teen is pregnant she will go to the only place she knows of...the YELLOW PAGES or an ad in the back of the free voice magazines and walk into the den of death out of desperation. Some may even think that they will get unbiased advice not understanding that the 'clinics' make their money when you abort and lose money when they have to support pregnant women. When we don't talk about it or don't make it clear what "LIFE " is...what the repercussions are to abortion prior to pregnancy then the girl in her emotional state may believe that the ladies at Planned Parenthood answering her calls are the ones who care about her and are leading her toward a healthy solution to her problem. Of course I can say from experience that Godly counsel is hard to get or hear when you are already walking the path to the clinic...the emotions are too raw and there is no rationale...so the CHOICE is already suspect....We need to encourage our youth groups, churches and families to talk about life......it could save a life.

Demotherizing America! Reviving Martha and Mary!

When I was 19, I totally bought into the rhetoric of the women's movement. According to their message, 'pro woman' means pro abortion. There was also a loud and clear message that you couldn't be pro woman if you were pro life. I also believed that abortion was my total right and would empower me by freeing me up to pursue more 'lofty goals', such as being anything else but a mother. When I had my abortion at 19, I was totally caught off guard with my feelings of guilt, regret and mainly powerlessness. In my deep depression I felt alone and really honestly believed I was the only pro woman post abortive woman to start to believe that my so-called SISTERS like Gloria Steinem and Margaret Sanger were not looking out for my best interests after all. Abortion is not pro woman and indeed not liberating. This past week, Gloria Steinem wrote an op-ed piece regarding Sarah Palin called "Palin; Wrong Woman.." In the piece she says the following regarding Sarah Palin:

"She opposes just about every issue that women support by a majority or plurality."

Give me a minute to respond to Ms. Steinem:
"Excuse me Ms. Steinem, but you are very out of touch with the women of America. If anybody is unsuited to speak on behalf of American women, it is you. Please stop speaking lies regarding the female majority and what it is that you think that we want. You have no clue! When McCain chose Sarah Palin as his running mate, hope was implanted back into the hearts and wombs of the women of America who have been violated by the abortions that you advocated for. With your advocacy through the years, all hope was lost for me and others like me that have been scarred by abortion, that now see abortion for what it truly is: the destruction of another human being, our sons and daughters. The more you speak or claim to speak for the MAJORITY of women, the more you steal them of their life affirming true power. I know now that nothing has empowered me more then expressing myself fully which includes motherhood, even when unplanned. You have DEMOTHERIZED women and America. This week with Sarah Palin representing the true female majority, we finally have been revived and are being resurrected with hope. You say in your piece that you are a "hope-a-holic". What are your hopes? That women will continue to be allowed to kill their babies and go through an abortion that could potentially lead them into deep sadness and regret? Do you hope that you can continue to advocate for women being in power as long as those women only believe that abortion is not an atrocity toward children and women? Ms. Steinem, please stop confusing the young women of America. If they continued to listen to you they may believe that not allowing abortion is the same as promoting STD's. They may believe that the Republican party is still not the party of women. There is a new face in the game and a new leader for us. You can retire now. This woman is relevant and speaks for the women of today. Her name is Sarah Palin and she is a republican mother. No she didn't abort her down syndrome baby. She would not have allowed her daughter to go through the hell of abortion, even if raped. And she wears a skirt, loves her children and husband and has the credentials to be in true power. She is the one who is speaking for the majority of the women, not you. If anyone is the wrong woman for the job of female leadership it is you."

Whew! Hope! When we witness how many children have been aborted and how many women are still hurting, it is hard to have hope. In the story about Lazarus in the bible (john 11:1-50) we see two women whose brother has been dead for days. The only hope they have is Jesus. Lazarus was ready for burial. All hope was gone. They were grieved. I relate so much to this story. The grief of losing a child is very deep. It can linger for a long time. Many of us have believed that the powers that be in govt will just continue to turn their eyes away from the life left inside of women, allowing that life to die. Jesus came and brought Lazarus back to life. Joy and hope filled the hearts and souls of Martha and Mary. I prayed for healing from my despair after abortion, and God healed me through my children. But there will also be a sadness as long as young women are kept away from the TRUTH. This week I believe that the Martha's and Mary's of our country that have aborted and lost hope can now see some light. Jesus is answering our prayers by reviving a women's movement too...this new movement embracing true feminism is also defined as embodying feminine character. We are mothers and proud of it. Sarah Palin is our leader. Gloria Steinem can retire.

ms. steinems piece:
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-steinem4-2008sep04,0,1290251.story

19 and pregnant!

The focus on 17 year old Bristol Palin has brought up some intense memories for me. I thought maybe I would give some insight as to what it is like to find out you are pregnant before turning 20. It is so deeply complicated. But in a nutshell when a young woman discovers she is pregnant it is sheer fear and desperation that causes her to abort her baby. Very few women abort because of an intense and happy desire to abort. (ps..check out the studies of David Reardon of the Elliot institute..link on the side of this blog). I found out I was pregnant when i was 19. My mother was a single mother and my Dad was not in our financial picture. My mother also had just remarried and made it clear that she had been looking forward to living on her own with my wonderful stepfather without any children at home. I had to support myself financially and had been doing so for a couple of years at that point. I had an incredible job singing and dancing at Disney. I was most rightly correct in believing I would lose that job and my benefits had I decided to tell them about the pregnancy. My mistake was to have premarital sex and live with a young man. Once I found out I was pregnant I felt that I had no one. And being alone without anyone saying "i will make it better. I will support you eventhough you made this mistake" is all that a young girl is longing for. Her greatest fear is rejection from her family and friends and inflicting disappointment on them. When young women with very little life experience are alone attempting to make this major decision for themselves run into a Planned parenthood that tells them 'this is the way to make it better,' they are so desperate that they believe the lie hook line and sinker. In a nutshell, the little angel falls and runs into the devil disguised as a caring sister or mother. THe girl then hears the rationale from Planned parenthood that this is the best choice and they don't even focus or acknowledge the real live human being living and growing inside. Sad still to admit my family was pro choice and as much as we all love eachother if we are being really honest the support I would have received would have been support in making my choice to abort. I have happily found forgiveness no doubt from Jesus. But the reality is that because of the complexities of the issue young women are given weeks to make a decision that requires mature and Godly counsel. In all honesty, many of us who oppose abortion also will oppose government support or welfare for unwed women facing a crisis pregnancy. It is hugely difficult for the women who choose to keep their babies as well and yet LIFE is the only proper choice. It also takes intense courage to come out with this news and greater courage to go through with the pregnancy when living in a pro choice family. These women need support because the largest demographic for crisis pregnancies are college aged students and minorities. Both of which usually have little financial support. I pray for more acceptance for young women who decide to make a positive choice in giving life to their babies. But look at what is going on in the media right now. The liberal media that is controlled by the same media that will champion women's right to choose will crucify a mother who chooses to support her daughter and the young mother choosing to keep her baby. Sarah Palin and her husband made such a positive statement regarding their support for their daughter Bristol and her young fiance. I want to say "amen' to that. But I also cringe at the media coverage and wonder how many young women today are saying to themselves "i am heading to the abortion clinic because I don't want to be attacked and met with the same venom as they are handing out to Bristol and her mother." Our society is hugely twisted. I wonder if someone can have the courage to ask Barack Obama if the reason he didn't choose Hillary for his running mate was because she was a mother. Or is it okay because she only had one child or perhaps she chose abortion in her past..you never know...but we really need to pray that God is victorious in moving the hearts, minds and souls of these young women that are pregnant today to seeing the potential for a world that is run by women who scream out and say "it is not pro women to allow us to kill our babies."

Why I changed my mind about John McCain!

I never was intending on voting for Obama. I was clear about that especially after hearing about the born alive bill and his stance on choice. However, I also was totally not excited about McCain. I have been known to stay home or vote for Ralph Nadar or someone when i am ticked off with my candidates. However a few weeks back when I watched Rick Warren's summit at Saddleback it was so clear to me. It dawned on me during the interview that McCain clearly showed a passion and an attitude toward service. It also dawned on me that we have such media bias. Up to that point I had never heard or seen John McCain's personality. The media just gives him such little air time. I was pleased that he answered directly and clearly at the summit. He looked so much more experienced as well. And even though he was 72 I truly got the impression that this was a bold independent man with fresh vision. Granted I still wasn't passionate about him but decided after that interview that I was comfortable voting for him. And I liked his personality. Some of his political leanings are a little too liberal for me but was happy he was clear on LIFE. So, i was content to be voting for him. On Friday i watched TV as it was announced that Sarah Palin was the VP running mate. I literally was floored. I never ever expected such a bold and yet brilliant VP choice. I felt as if I was watching my favorite baseball team who was losing in the ninth inning and someone comes up to the plate and hits a grand slam and we win. I had been in this complacent resigned place of voting republican but losing and all of the sudden there is hope. The selection told me more about John McCain than it did about Sarah Palin even. He is bold, brilliant and not afraid to make a decision that is controversial but the right one. To continue the baseball metaphor i am seeing John McCain on the sidelines like Joe Torre (x Yankees manager) make the most brilliant change in the lineup possible and then they win the game. I am not sure if we will win the game. I am praying we will but I am invigorated and will be the first in line to vote in November. And I am praying that Sarah Palin can withstand the attacks on her family and character. And i pray she can inspire the US to have a conscience.

Fruit in the Seed!

“A Speedier Man-Killing”—Tertullian (c. 150 - c. 229)
As a preacher and theologian, Tertullian taunted the Roman Empire at every turn, defended believers against the persecution of the state, and often reprimanded Christians for compromising their faith. Famous for his faithfulness (an early developer of the doctrine of the “Trinity”) and his failures (his joining with the Montanists—a group who believed in extra-biblical revelation), Tertullian would not allow abortion to remain unchallenged by the Church.
In our case, murder being once for all forbidden, we may not destroy even the foetus in the womb, while as yet the human being derives blood from other parts of the body for its sustenance. To hinder a birth is merely a speedier man-killing; nor does it matter whether you take away a life that is born, or destroy one that is coming to the birth. That is a man which is going to be one; you have the fruit already in its seed.1


Footnotes:
1
Tertullian, Apology, in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1957), 25. In other translations, see Chapter 9.

Are Women of Faith Truly Pro-Life?

There is an organization called the Guttmacher Institute. I believe it is heavily connected to Planned Parenthood and therefore there is a potential for their research to be skewed a little. But still pro life organizations also use some of the research on abortion that the Guttmacher institute uses for many stats. One that I really found disturbing is that the Guttmacher Institute( http://www.guttmacher.org )studies claim
that 78% percent of women who abort state they have a religious affiliation.

I am starting to believe that this statistic is true. In the past few weeks since coming out of the closet as a post abortive woman I have observed many of my christian friends in conversations express some kind of understanding for exceptions to allowing abortion etc. And of course I learned that many protestant churches United Methodist, Evangelical Lutherans and Presbyterians still agree that abortion is sanctioned in some cases. I have listened as Nancy Pelosi (who claims to be Catholic)quoted incorrectly the Catholic's view on when life begins. And of course Joe Biden who claims to be catholic and Barack Obama who says he is affiliated with a christian church.They are both pro choice. That one totally boggles my mind but I don't even want to go into it now because Obama is basically the poster child for abortion having voted against the born alive bill.

When I had my abortion I believe that I was totally confused on the subject even though I was raised in a Lutheran Church and surrounded by Christians. At 19 most of my friends at least believed in God and were a part of various protestant denominations but would say they believe women should have the right to abort.

Anyhow, my point is that I believe there needs to be more actual dialogue on the subject of life (and what it means to Jesus) in an effort to have women of faith truly understand what is at stake here and what the bible says on the subject. Here are a few quotes:

Ps 139:16 "Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

Isa 46:3 "Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived."


Luke 2:21 "On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived."

Jer 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

The churches seem to avoid the discussion with a 10 foot pole. Even the decidedly pro life churches try to stay away from such a controversial issue perhaps with the once a year sermon on the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. Or they don't discuss it at all but place an insert in the flyer every January. I believe this avoidance hugely contributes to those Christian women walking into the abortion clinics and secretly killing their babies. My Christian girlfriends when in confidence have revealed the following information to me.

One friend told me about her sister who aborted while she was a christian but in college. She did end up marrying the father and have been married for many years now. My other girlfriend told me the story of her christian friend who had 4 children goes to church regularly and aborted her 5th child because she was getting older and was considering divorcing her husband. A teenage friend of my daughter who works for a christian organization is now on anti depressants because she had an abortion. She is in her 2nd year of college. My christian girlfriend told me that she can see how women can have abortions because sometimes it just isn't the right time and it wouldn't be FAIR to the child(death isn't fair either). I am entering an entirely different world here where women claim to be pro life and then abort their babies or they claim to be pro choice but say they are against abortion. Who are we and what do believe? And let's just admit to our own hypocrisy. This is stunning to me. Until I extended myself and started the conversations i assumed 'women of faith' were united in believing in the sanctity of life and were agaist abortion. I really feel that if we develop a close intimate relationship with Jesus we will not abort our babies. We would see them as sacred. Church, religion, claiming the title of christian or 'women of faith' doesn't necessarily guarantee a close relationship with Christ. Prayer and seeking His presence in your life will. Being obedient to His will and truly taking a leap of faith for Him when life is not planned will pull you into a closeness with Him that is undeniable. Exercise faith... In the meantime, remaining quiet on the subject as an effort to be 'politically correct', 'nice' and 'polite' is going to end up leading too many more babies to their deaths.