Category: Life in Christ

“Forgiven and Set Free” – truth, grace and abortion

Peanut Gallery: This article originally appeared in the Greenwich Time, Greenwich, CT – May 13, 2000. I wrote it to offer hope and help for post-abortion women. And, I believe, it is just as timely today. The resources cited are still available and I’ve added a few additional ones at the end.
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“Forgiven and Set Free” – truth, grace and abortion

It’s not often that a person gets a standing ovation at his own funeral. But that’s what happened this past week to Cardinal John O’Connor, for his unwavering support of life. This spontaneous accolade was a testimony to his wonderful ability to maintain the balance between truth and grace.

The truth: every unborn child is a gift of God with intrinsic value and the right to life. And grace: God forgives and heals women who have chosen abortion. It’s the practical working out of God’s healing grace that I would like to address here.

A few years ago, feminist Frederica Mathewes-Green conducted a series of focus groups for women around the country asking them why they chose to have an abortion and what could have helped them make another choice. The surprising results were compiled in a book titled, “Real Choices.” Continue reading ““Forgiven and Set Free” – truth, grace and abortion” →

Morning Reading: Romans 8.31-34 NLT

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one — for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”  Romans 8.31-34 NLT

“Put me in coach” – Follow up – Public Catholic – “Stop Slogan-Voting Pt 2 – High Dollar Campaigns”

Peanut Gallery: Every coach knows that building a deep bench is essential to winning. You never know what will happen… and you never know when an opportunity will arise. A winning team has players who are just waiting on the sidelines for their chance to show their stuff.

Mordecai had Queen Esther – if somewhat reluctantly – on his bench –

“For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 NKJV

This post is a follow up to my earlier comment on Public Catholic – Stop Slogan-Voting Pt 2 – High Dollar Campaigns. If you haven’t read Rebecca Hamilton’s original post, please do so now. Click here.

Grassroots “insurgency” movements – e.g. Pro-Life, Tea Party – will not be politically successful over the long haul, unless they develop a deep bench with folks who are prepared to step in when opportunities arise. Rallies, marches and protests can capture public attention – for a while – but they don’t translate into legislative action… and ultimately nothing much changes. Continue reading ““Put me in coach” – Follow up – Public Catholic – “Stop Slogan-Voting Pt 2 – High Dollar Campaigns”” →

Morning Reading: Romans 1.16-17 NLT

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes — the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” Romans 1.16-17 NLT