Month: July 2013

Morning Reading: Acts 13:16-43 NLT – words of encouragement

Reading: Acts 13:16-43 NLT

Paul and his companions then left Paphos by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port town of Perga. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. But Paul and Barnabas traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia.

Looking toward the site of Pisidian Antioch. Atop the ridge in the center of the photo is the aqueduct that supplied water to the city.
Looking toward the site of Pisidian Antioch.
Atop the ridge in the center of the photo is the aqueduct that supplied water to the city.

On the Sabbath they went to the synagogue for the services. After the usual readings from the books of Moses and the prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message: “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, come and give it.”

So Paul stood, lifted his hand to quiet them, and started speaking. “Men of Israel,” he said, “and you God-fearing Gentiles, listen to me.

“The God of this nation of Israel chose our ancestors and made them multiply and grow strong during their stay in Egypt. Then with a powerful arm he led them out of their slavery. He put up with them through forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Then he destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to Israel as an inheritance. All this took about 450 years.

“After that, God gave them judges to rule until the time of Samuel the prophet. Then the people begged for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said,

‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’

“And it is one of King David’s descendants, Jesus, who is God’s promised Savior of Israel! Before he came, John the Baptist preached that all the people of Israel needed to repent of their sins and turn to God and be baptized. As John was finishing his ministry he asked,

‘Do you think I am the Messiah? No, I am not! But he is coming soon—and I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the sandals on his feet.’

“Brothers—you sons of Abraham, and also you God-fearing Gentiles—this message of salvation has been sent to us! The people in Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Jesus as the one the prophets had spoken about. Instead, they condemned him, and in doing this they fulfilled the prophets’ words that are read every Sabbath. They found no legal reason to execute him, but they asked Pilate to have him killed anyway.

“When they had done all that the prophecies said about him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead! And over a period of many days he appeared to those who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to the people of Israel.

“And now we are here to bring you this Good News. The promise was made to our ancestors, and God has now fulfilled it for us, their descendants, by raising Jesus. This is what the second psalm says about Jesus:

‘You are my Son.  Today I have become your Father.’

For God had promised to raise him from the dead, not leaving him to rot in the grave. He said,

‘I will give you the sacred blessings I promised to David.’

Another psalm explains it more fully:

‘You will not allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.’

This is not a reference to David, for after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed. No, it was a reference to someone else—someone whom God raised and whose body did not decay.

“Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God—something the law of Moses could never do. Be careful! Don’t let the prophets’ words apply to you. For they said,

‘Look, you mockers, be amazed and die! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.’”

As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue that day, the people begged them to speak about these things again the next week. Many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, and the two men urged them to continue to rely on the grace of God.

Prayer: Holy God – Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord… who brings the Good News of forgiveness, reconciliation and eternal life! Fill us with your Spirit, power and grace… that all might know Jesus is Lord. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Grace Alone” – Scott Wesley Brown /Jeff Nelson
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Morning Reading: Acts 13:4-12 NLT – Spirit sent

Reading: Acts 13:4-12 NLT

Apostle Paul's First Missionary Journey
Apostle Paul’s First Missionary Journey

So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus. There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. John Mark went with them as their assistant.

Afterward they traveled from town to town across the entire island until finally they reached Paphos, where they met a Jewish sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus. He had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. The governor invited Barnabas and Saul to visit him, for he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said. He was trying to keep the governor from believing.

Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? Watch now, for the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him.

When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

Prayer: Holy Spirit send me, equip me, to represent the Lord Jesus with wisdom and power from above. Purify my heart and calm my spirit so that I will know when to speak and when to listen. And give me the words of Life that quicken souls and lead to eternal life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hymn: “Wonderful words of Life” – Philip P. Bliss (1874) performed by Fountain View Academy
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Hundreds call to adopt Down Syndrome baby, save it from abortion – reblog Washington Times

washingtontimes.com -click here

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Photo by: Carolyn KasterImage: Associated Press

When the Rev. Thomas Vander Woude learned about a young couple planning to abort their unborn baby that had been diagnosed with Down syndrome, the priest reached out and offered a deal: Deliver the child and he would help find an appropriate adoptive family.

But he had to act fast.

The woman, who has not been identified for her privacy and her protection, was just shy of six months pregnant and lives in a state that prohibits abortions past 24 weeks — which meant he had a short time to find a family willing to make a lifelong commitment.

So Father Vander Woude, the lead pastor at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainesville, Va., approached a volunteer who helped manage the church’s social media pages, and she posted an urgent plea on Facebook early Monday morning.

“There is a couple in another state who have contacted an adoption agency looking for a family to adopt their Down Syndrome unborn baby. If a couple has not been found by today they plan to abort the baby. If you are interested in adopting this baby please contact Fr. VW IMMEDIATELY,” the post read. “We are asking all to pray for this baby and the wisdom that this couple realize the importance of human life and do not abort this beautiful gift from God.”

The post asked people to call the church’s office after 9:30 a.m. Monday or to email Father Vander Woude.

No one expected the response they received.

“When we got in and opened up around 9:30, it was nearly nonstop. All day long, we were receiving phone calls from people who wanted to adopt the baby,” church staff member Martha Drennan said. “Father Vander Woude has gotten over 900 emails in regard to the baby.”

The offers were narrowed to three families, which the unborn child’s parents are reviewing with the help of an adoption agency.

Ms. Drennan said the church received phone calls from all over the United States and around the world, including from England, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands.

“I think it is a wonderful use of social media, that word can so quickly get all over the country and even to foreign countries and that the people who see the value of life are stepping up and saying, ‘I will take that baby and raise that baby as mine,’” Ms. Drennan said. “It was a beautiful witness all day long that so many people wanted this child and believed in the dignity of that child — Down syndrome or not.”

The president and founder of the International Down Syndrome Coalition, Diane Grover, stressed the importance of informing couples who are considering abortion for babies with Down syndrome that adoption is a viable option, pointing to the fast and overwhelming response her organization received about this one unborn child as an amazing example.

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International Down Syndrome Coalition

“When [couples are] in that position, a lot of people wonder if their child [with Down syndrome] would actually get adopted,” Ms. Grover said. “There’s a lot of people waiting, and we are happy to always help.”

David Dufresne, a seminary student who plans to become a priest next year, volunteered to help the overwhelmed church staff take calls.

“I was taking calls for about three hours straight, just talking to people who are willing to adopt this little baby they never knew about until that morning,” Mr. Dufresne said. “I mean, all day long, just receiving phone calls from people who were so generous and within a couple minutes made a life-changing decision. I was really inspired by the goodness of people and what they would do to save a life.”

Morning Reading: Acts 13:1-3 NLT – hands on commissioning

Reading: Acts 13.1-3 NLT

commissioning alonso-hands-onAmong the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.

Prayer: Holy Spirit – Call forth godly prophets and teachers from within your church… people who will worship, fast and pray. And set apart worker/evangelists who will go to harvest fields near and far… seeking those who are lost. Unite the world-wide community of believers around this missionary effort… regardless of religious tradition. Speak your Word of truth… that all might know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hymn: “Fling Out the Banner! Let it float!” – George W. Doane (1848)
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Prayer Request: Irish Parliament Considers Pivotal Abortion Bill This Week

“60,000 march in Ireland’s biggest ever pro-life Rally against abortion”
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Should this law be passed, Ireland will face the ugly prospect of joining the United States as a nation where the most dangerous place for a baby is nestled in his or her mother’s womb.

Charlotte Lozier Institute on July 9, 2013 in Commentary, Culture & Life – By Nora Sullivan

This week in Ireland, the final vote on proposed abortion legislation is expected to take place. The Dáil is expected to hear and discuss proposed amendments to the divisive bill, though Taoiseach Enda Kenny has made it clear that one of the most contentious portions of the bill — legalized abortion on the grounds of suicidality — will not be removed from the proposed legislation.

The bill states that it shall be lawful to carry out a procedure in which “an unborn life is ended” if medical practitioners certify that there is a “real and substantial risk of the woman’s life by way of suicide” and that risk can only be averted by means of termination. The bill makes no stipulations regarding gestational age, meaning that this proposed law would allow for the induced abortion of unborn babies up until the day of birth.

Despite pro-abortion advocates’ arguments, the assertion that this action is necessary for the mental health and life of the mother is simply not supported by any credible evidence. The medical evidence makes it quite clear that abortion is not a solution to suicidality or suicide ideation. In January, the Irish Government’s Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children held hearings to consider evidence from leading medical experts on this issue. The experts overwhelmingly agreed that abortion is not a treatment for suicidal behavior – and asserted that the appropriate response to suicidality is to provide proper psychological treatment and medication.

In a written submission to the Committee, Paul Gilligan, CEO of St Patrick’s University Hospital in Dublin, and St. Patrick’s medical director Professor James Lucey explained that there is “no evidence either in literature or from the work of St Patrick’s University Hospital that indicates that termination of pregnancy is an effective treatment for any mental health disorder or difficulty.”

Additionally, there have been multiple studies which demonstrate that, rather than acting as a cure for any sort of psychological distress, abortion can further harm a woman’s mental health. Abortion can be a contributing cause of depression, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as well as suicide ideation.

While there, of course, must be concern and care for a woman in mental distress, the fact remains that this bill would allow for the destruction of a human person. To endorse such a proposal — especially as the evidence demonstrates that it is needless and unhelpful — would be both morally wrong and intellectually dishonest.

The proposed legislation is somewhat paradoxically entitled the “Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill.” As this law would both forcibly end the life of one human being and potentially tear apart the life of another, the irony is quite bitter. Should this law be passed, Ireland will face the ugly prospect of joining the United States as a nation where the most dangerous place for a baby is nestled in his or her mother’s womb.