The Freedom of Choice Act - "It's time to turn the page. We want a new day here in America!"

To begin, I beg a question: How often have you, the reader, sat and mused over what you would do if you were fortunate enough to be entrusted with the title, 'President?' What great changes would you effect on your nation and the world? What good deeds contemplated would spring to fruition and become reality? What is the very first thing that you would seek to accomplish as President of the United States? There are as many possible answers to the above question as there are stars in the heavens or individual minds in the world entire. However, there is a vast chasm which lies gaping, creating a void between imagination and reality. The unexceptional man is left to his musings with the knowledge that they will most likely remain buried in a dream world.

The United States is currently experiencing the imaginings of President Obama. Some of his thoughts and ideologies will soon be turned into reality. Many of the President's musings have been centered around reproductive choice. Obama prepared the American public long in advance that, should he come into office, he would be seeking to promote the Freedom of Choice Act. Not only this, but he defined his support of the bill by the following terms: "The FIRST THING I WILL DO is sign the Freedom Of Choice Act." When I contemplate all of the glorious deeds that might first issue from the mind of a new President, infanticide is not usually among the number. 

When looking back over the last few moths to the trail blazed by the Obama campaign, his address to Planned Parenthood, which was made while in the infancy of his candidacy, did well to express his views on reproductive choice. Indeed, it distinguishes itself from the rest of his speeches, addresses on the economy, environment and world relationships, as a proverbial "sore thumb" of the lot. Obama might make every eloquent endeavor to bandage his beliefs of infanticide in the linens of "choice" and "freedom," but in the end, the results of his particular pro-abortion, or "pro-choice" doctrine will speak for themselves. 

But what will the Freedom of Choice Act accomplish, you may wonder? FOCA is a repeal on the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, a law enacted November 5th of 2003, which staunchly prohibits the the late-term abortion of babies. Under the guidance of President George W. Bush, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in good conscience that, "Any physician who, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, knowingly performs a partial-birth abortion and thereby kills a human fetus shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both." Not only would FOCA repeal the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, but it would also supersede all local and state laws regarding abortion. In essence, there will be no laws regarding the where, when, why and how's of the abortion procedure. In response to the Partial Birth Abortion Ban and his attempt to, " ... create a new day, here in America," the new President is quoted to have stated, "On this fundamental issue (FOCA) I will not yield, and Planned Parenthood will not yield." Sounds like new day, indeed. 

When you get down to the nitty-gritty of the ideology so eloquently spouted by Mr. Obama, it is essentially all about choice and human rights. The word "choice" is obviously loosely defined. Whose choice? This certainly does not refer to the baby in question. In his address to Planned Parenthood, the President defined choice as, " ... how we lead our lives." Interesting. Mr. President seems to conclude that pro-life advocates picket to disregard "choice." This simply isn't true. When it comes down to brass tacks, the abortion abolitionist makes a very weighty choice - they choose life. On the flip-side, the pro-abortion feminist also makes a choice. It is a decision that selfishly, and sometimes ignorantly, covets the remembrance of everything that defined her life before pregnancy. In the name of (what has been defined as) freedom she chooses death. Two choices - two outcomes. 

Not only does FOCA seek to supersede every local and state law regarding abortion but if passed, this bill will set the stage for the large-scale continuation of abortion and infanticide for generations to come. Currently, there are more then 550 laws that were put in place by the government to regulate abortion in America. If passed, FOCA will wipe the slate clean, and every possible means of government interference in regards to abortion will be null and void. By making abortion in every form a fundamental constitutional right, the government is essentially allowing the American public to run fast and loose with the practice. Some of the long-term effects of this bill include:

- The right of "Conscience" will be taken away from the doctors and hospitals who feel that it is ethically and morally wrong to perform abortions. Thus, every able doctor will be forced to perform abortions regardless of personal preference or belief.

- Parents will no longer be notified if their daughter is seeking an abortion. Any underaged woman, regardless of how young, will no longer need her parent's consent to procure an abortion. 

-  All restrictions on government funding will be removed. Tax payers will be forced to foot the bill for the procedure. 

- The ban on partial birth abortion and live birth abortions will be lifted and they will no longer be considered criminal offenses. 

To further quote President Obama in his address to Planned Parenthood, he ended his speech with the comment that, "We must never be willing to consign a teenage girl to a lifetime of struggle because of a lack of access to birth control." Talk about completely absolving a woman from taking responsibility for her own actions. Statistically speaking, the most dangerous place in America, not to mention the whole world, is to be situated inside the womb of a woman. With the liberals now controlling the house, senate and presidency, FOCA may soon be a reality. If this happens abortion will be used in conjunction with the pill as a means of daily birth control. With no limits and no responsible accountability, the young men and women of America won't have to worry about the consequences of casual or premarital sex. As Mr. President stated in reference to his own children, "I want my daughters ... to be absolutely free to seek their own happiness." This reeks of hedonism. We must, stated the President, find, "common ground based on common sense." To quote my father, "If common sense was common, everyone would have it." 

Not one time in his entire speech did Obama reference the unborn. His scope was limited entirely to the woman. The President seems to be carelessly omitting important facts, namely that the body of the baby is not the body of the mother. It is true that the baby lies within the mother's womb, but location does not determine person-hood. The old jackass (pardon the pun) populist belief of, "Let the people rule," seems to resurface every now and again in the Democratic ideological system. It seems as if Dr. Suess' Horton hit the nail on the head (he must have been a Republican); once again the Elephants have it right. "A persons a person, no matter how small." 

Stem Cell Research - Obama's Ethics

Stem cell research, a scientific practice which originated in the 1960's through the efforts and research of Canadian scientists Ernest A. McCulloch and James E. Till, has recently been infused back into the headlines with President Obama's decision to lift the Dickey-Wicker amendment. This amendment was put place in 1996 as a cap on the use of federal dollars to support and further embryonic stem cell research. Thus, American scientists wishing to dabble in the research of these cells have had to seek funding through private means. However, this doesn't mean that stem cell research has not continued in the United States. While still in office, President Bush happily supported the science in the use of adult and animal stem cells, but kindly refrained from the use of human embryos and fetuses. This was due to a profound belief in the truth that human embryos and the more mature fetus ought to be protected by the government as uniquely human individuals. But with the ushering in of the new Democratic government comes the expected torrent of conservative policy reversals, and the Dicky-Wicker amendment is one of the first to be thrown to the dogs. President Obama, a self-proclaimed man of faith, stated that moving forward in this area of research required a most careful and, "delicate balance."  Ahem! This leaves the more conservative members of the USA, not to mention the entire world, wondering how one could possibly offer an ethical and "delicate balance" to the borrowing of embryonic and fetal cells - cells that are inexplicably and uniquely human. 

To be fair, I must confess that when I contemplate the idea of stem cell research as a whole, my mind automatically and entirely focuses on the use of aborted babies as research cadavers. To use the tiny bodies of these medically murdered persons surely sends a "positive" message of, "Don't worry. Choosing to have an abortion can further scientific research. Your "donation" will enable us to, one day, re-create the spinal column of a crippled man, or reverse the effects of cancer in children." To employ the bodies of the unborn in such a manner is to use them in a most ill fashion, and it degrades them to an even further degree. Not only does this world view paint these tiny individuals as inhuman, but it gives science license to arrogantly borrow their cells and reproduce them as if their lives were worth nothing more then an experiment. But to focus merely upon that one aspect is a gross understatement of all that the research implies. Indeed, the aspect of research can be widened to include the use of adult, animal, embryonic (as mentioned above) and parthnogeneic cells. In order to increase my own understanding and further the comprehension of the reader, this author will attempt to present concise medical definitions of the above procedures. My aim is to widen understanding, expel ignorant notions and provide information which can be formulated a most careful and unbiased opinion. That being said, I humbly submit the following {definitions taken from www.wikipedia.org}:

The Use of Adult Cells - "The term adult cell refers to any cell which is found in a developed organism that has two properties: the ability to create another cell like itself and also divide and create more differentiated then itself. Also known as somatic {referring to the cells of the body, rather then the gametes [egg and sperm]}, stem sells and germline {giving rise to gametes} stem cells, they can be found in children, as well as adults. [NOTE - oftentimes, the use of fetal stem cells are grouped into the "adult" category]

Plurpotent stem cells {cells which can differentiate into nearly all types of cells [ie: cells derived from the three germ layers ( - a germ layer is a group of cells, formed during animal embryogenesis. They include the ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm)] are rare and generally small in number but can be found in a number of tissues including umbilical cord blood. A great deal of adult stem cell research has focused on clarifying their capacity to divide or self-renew indefinitely and their differentiating potential. Most adult stem cells are lineage restricted (aka. multipotent - stem cells which can differentiate into a number of cells, but only those in a closely related family of cells) and are generally referred to by their tissue of origin.

Adult stem cell treatments have been successfully used for many years to treat leukemia and related bone/blood cancers through bone marrow transplants. Adult stem cells are also used in veterinary medicine to treat tendon and ligament injuries in horses. The use of adult stem cell in research and therapy is not as controversial as embryonic stem cells because the production of adult stem cells does not require the destruction of an embryo. Additionally, because in some instances adult stem cells can be obtained from the intended recipient, the risk of rejection is essentially non-existent in these situations. Consequently, more US government funding is being provided for adult stem cell research" (information obtained from www.wikipedia.org).

The Use of Embryonic Cells - "Embryonic stem cell lines are cultures of cells derived from the epiblast tissue of the inner cell mass {the mass of cells inside the primordial embryo that will eventually give rise to the definitive structures of the fetus. This structure forms in the earliest stages of development, before implantation into the endometrium of the uterus has occurred} or a blastocyst or earlier morula {an embryo at an early stage of embryonic development consisting of cells called blastomeres arranged in a solid ball} stage embryos. A blastocyst is an early stage embryo - approximately four to five days old in humans and consisting of 50-150 cells. ES cells are pluripotent {the ability to have more then one potential outcome} and give rise during development to all derivatives of the three primary germ layers: ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm. In other words, they can develop into each of the more then 200 cell types of the adult body when given sufficient and necessary stimulation for a specific cell type. They do not contribute to the extra-embryonic membranes or the placenta.  

After nearly ten years of research, there are no approved treatments or human trials using embryonic stem cells. ES cells, being pluripotent cells (see above for definition), require specific signals for correct differentiation - if injected directly into another body, ES cells will differentiate into many different types of cells, causing teratoma {an encapsulated tumor}. Differentiating ES cells into usable cells while avoiding transplant rejection are just a few of the hurdles that embryonic stem cell researchers still face. Many nations currently have moratoria {a ban} on either ES cell research or the production of new ES cell lines. Because of  their combined abilities of unlimited expansion and pluripotency, embryonic stem cells remain a theoretically potential source for regenerative medicine and tissue replacement after injury or disease" (information obtained from www.wikipedia.org). 

And last but not least:

The Use of Parthenogetic Cells - Parthenogenesis is the term that is used when an egg spontaneously activates on its own. "It is an asexual form of reproduction found in females where growth and development of embryos or seeds occurs without fertilization by a male. The offspring produced by parthenogenesis are always female in species that use the XY sex-determination system" {Definition taken from www.wikipedia.org}. This condition is often common in the human female. Sometimes a woman's eggs activate and form cysts or benign tumors inside of the ovary. When those activated eggs begin to divide, they resemble the human embryo in its earliest stages, and form blastocysts containing stem cells. The use of these cyst-like, unfertilized eggs could be viewed as a possible and "ethical" alternative to embryonic stem cell usage. Unlike in animals who reproduce through parthenogenesis, the effect in female humans is the exclusive formation of a cyst in the ovaries. If the aforementioned egg were to be implanted inside the womb of a woman, the result would not yield the formation of a fetus. 

Forgive the dry nature of the above information, but I find it necessary in order to form an educated opinion on the subject of stem cell research as a whole. As you have observed, there are many different ways to obtain stem cells. The cells in question can be harvested from a wide rage of benefactors - adult humans, animals, embryos, fetus' and cyst-like cells in the ovaries of a human woman. Up until recently, all of the above save adults and animals have been checked off the research list by the Dickey-Wicker amendment and protected by the government as containing life or the potential for it . Even if the scientific community is using the term loosely, after reading the above information, one might be left wondering whether any of the methods of stem cell research are worthy to be deemed "ethical." Despite this, President Obama has decided to trek the slippery slope of ethics by promoting the use of tiny humans and their cells in the name of scientific advancement. One wonders why science need dabble in the use of embryos at all, especially when there are many other means of obtaining these coveted cells - methods less fraught with ethical and spiritual conundrums. This author will once again remind the reader that Obama is a self-proclaimed man of faith. This leaves me wondering, "Exactly what religion is he practicing?" 

{NOTE - If you want to view the President making his speech on Stem Cell Research, go to www.youtube.com and check it out. Educate yourself!}

Ethics - But What About the Rape Victim?

A popular avenue taken by pro-choicers is to dwell heavily upon the devastating reality of the rape victim. When all other questions have been curbed, the violated woman pops onto the scene and with her comes a ocean-full of impossibly hard questions. What, oh what to do with the baby conceived from the seed of violence? This author does not approach said topic and all of the gravity and pain that accompanies it with a flippant attitude. Instead it is with a heavy heart that I ask myself, "What care or advise would I offer to ease the mind of a woman who has conceived through no act of her own, but through the sin of another?" I cannot imagine the agony of it. Even when I try my hardest and employ every ounce of my imagination, my brain cannot muster up such a helpless feeling. To be so cruelly used, so completely violated to such an end as would lead to pregnancy - I cannot understand. Many may condemn this article entirely because I have never experienced the grief that accompanies the object that is now my topic. Regardless of this fact, I will try my utmost to be both sensitive and logical. 

The problem lies in what to DO with the pregnancy? Should it be terminated due to the pain it would inflict on the woman? A pregnant womb (all that should be rapped up in the beauty of a swollen belly and promise of a new life) would do very little to allow the rape victim to forget the terror of her ordeal, some conclude. How could we possibly force a woman to carry an unwanted pregnancy through to term? Therefore, the pregnancy should be ended to give the woman peace of mind. 

Such a statement seems like a proper and fair stance in the eyes of society. Undoubtably so! Abortion on demand is readily available in Canada and is not capped by law.  This means that any woman can simply waltz into the doors of an abortion clinic at any stage in her pregnancy and request that it be put to a speedy end. Therefore, one would naturally conclude that if abortion is available at the whim of convenience, it should most assuredly be available for the woman who, through no fault of her own, has forcibly become pregnant. So now what? Would it not seem gravely inhuman and unfeeling to present any other view? 

Based on my other postings one could already assume that this writer cannot easily accept the above view. The sterile and lawful death that accompanies the completion of every abortion, regardless of how that pregnancy came to be, cannot be overlooked. Even in the most bleak situations, we are not dealing with terms. We are dealing with lives. The words "rape" and "unwanted pregnancy" deeply involve more then one person. Although this sin rests heavily upon the shoulders of the woman who has been so helplessly violated, it also involves the soul of another: the baby in question. 

One cannot forget that this child has had no say in how it was conceived. Indeed, no one living or reading this humble paper has had any say in how they came into being. Wether it was through the passion and love of two individuals, or through terror and the sin of one individual forcing himself on another, the way that a person is conceived makes no difference in respects to viability of their person-hood. Therefore, it should be fair to conclude that the child who is a product of rape is still, in every respect, as much of a human being as is the child who is the product of a love. Is it not so? Let us be fair and logical. Let us call a, "Spade a spade." The situation of person-hood does not change based on "how" or "why."

On another note, many utter the assumption that an abortion would provide relief to the emotional aspect of the situation. When one removes the evidence of conception by rape, namely the baby in question, it is thought that the emotional wounds will mend more readily. Indeed, a pregnant belly (which is normally a universal sign of beauty) would be a definite reminder of the horror experienced by the mother. But riddle me this: Is abortion going to solve the emotional trauma associated with rape? I don't believe so. 

While seeking to justify my opinion, I was reminded of the day that I first observed an abortion in progress. I was not present in the flesh but was viewing the procedure over the internet. I winced at the computer screen and could not help but squint, grit my teeth, and cringe at the grizzly sight which met my gaze. Never before had I observed anything so violent. The hidden abortionist employed the suction cathiter and curette in a most forceful and brutal manner. As he (or she) scraped bits of baby from the inside of the womb of the woman it was all I could do to keep my eyes from wandering from what was transpiring before them. All at once the statistics became more real and vivid - not just regarding the 115, 000 babies who are destroyed daily world-wide by abortion, but the reality that many women cannot bare or carry a baby through to term after an abortion. As the metal rod of the curette flashed and scraped in a circular motion, expelling pieces of a tiny baby - a little soul being preciously knit together by the hands of the Almighty God, my eyes were opened to a new reality. Not only does abortion undoubtedly kill a baby, but it does well to maim the mother in the process. This "quick fix" called abortion often yields tragic and lasting results. 

There are many factors that play into procuring an abortion. Not only are there many physical ramifications to consider, but emotional drawbacks as well. Guilt and despair often follow swiftly behind the completion of an abortion. To be clear and fair, this author strongly believes that many women abort out of sheer ignorance to the wonder that is transpiring within their bodies. Indeed, it would be much easier to claim ignorance and undergo the procedure immediately after one finds herself pregnant rather then to research and try to clearly understand the splendor that encompasses all that pregnancy involves - especially if the woman in question deeply desires to rid herself of the unwanted baby. This is why I believe that it is so essential to present the truth of what abortion does to the bodies of the most innocent among us. The pictures, offensive though they may be, do well to educate the public. But all that aside, despite the ignorance and the complacency, many women regret and despair over their decision to kill their babies. Going back to the question of the baby conceived through the despicable sin "rape," I cannot imagine how adding the burden of murder into the mix would help heal the heart of the victim. Women know most deeply and personally, regardless of a lack of education on the subject, that abortion kills a valuable part of themselves - a part of themselves that is worthy of vigorous protection. 

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."

Psalm 139: 13-16

"Rescue those being lead away to death; hold back those staggering towards slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has 

done?"

Proverbs 24:11,12

So how to conclude this paper? Based on everything this author knows about the Almighty God, I am most assuredly convinced that the Lord despises abortion. It destroys the abundance of creativity He has invested into the knitting together of persons created in His image. With the Bible as our guide, all followers of Christ are to, as commanded in Proverbs 24, "... hold back those staggering towards slaughter." Even though rape is a grave and most touchy subject, the child conceived by rape is still a human being, and one who is, despite the sin, being intimately knitted together by the hand of a sovereign God. I have often been told that there are many "grey areas" when dealing with humans and abortion. No one situation is the same as the next, and conception through rape cannot possibly be compared to conception through fornication or adultery. Despite this, nothing can logically justify the destruction of a human life. Therefore, there are no grey areas. Abortion is murder. Murder is sin. Sin robs God of the glory due His name. God hates being robbed of His glory. It is that simple ... 

A Myth - "It's my body ..."

Pro-choice advocates tend to beat this statement to death: "It's my body. I should have the right to do what I please with it and to it." Now, the former statement would, in essence, be fair - if it were only correct. But it's not correct. It is, indeed, a BIG statement, but one fraught with falicy none the less. The womb belongs to the woman, but what lie peacefully growing therein does not. 

This morning while searching YouTube, I stumbled upon a video entitled, "It's My Body." Sighing, I clicked on it, assuming to be met with a volley of pro-choice statements. But instead, I saw a woman brandishing many coherent and logical truths. As an introduction to her topic, she stated with some reservation that she used to be pro-choice. That is, until she experienced abortion in a most personal manner. After having an abortion herself, she began an inquiry into her own mind, asking herself (my paraphrase), "Do I have four eyes? Four feet? Four hands? Do I have two sets of DNA? Two individual and separate personalities?" Dawn had broken in her mind, and had transfered this ray of light and logic into my own. Indeed, the womb belongs to the woman. Of that statement there can be no dispute. But what lay inside it, the life that is being knitted together within the security of its walls, is most certainly not her body. It contains the body and soul of another -  a unique human being. It contains another set of hands which do not belong to the mother, a unique set of fingerprints, a sparkling pair of eyes that have never been possessed by another human baby, and a distinct personality different from the woman in whose womb he or she resides. Such truths are indisputable. There is more then one body, and vastly more then one soul, involved in abortion. 

But, one might argue, this baby is a paracitic creature. It relies on the body of the mother for survival, and therefore, such reliance should relinquish all "rights" to life. If it cannot survive on its own, then it is not a human being. The former argument is both redundant and foolish. Regardless of popular feminist opinions or the multitude of pithy sayings employed by the enemies of pro-life logic; the truth still stands. The baby's body is not the mother's body. Indeed, a baby, who is essentially a body inside a body, assuredly relies on his or her mother for the continuance of existence. But the facts do not change in light of this reality. Moreover, if we applied this exception to those who are already born, we would have to assume that all those on insulin, all those undergoing dialasis, everyone who is on oxygen, and any person who is currently on life support are not fit to be called a human being. Such a presupposition, when woven into the fabric of our everyday existence, would yield sobering and drastic results. 

Quote: "A Lesser of Two Evils" - Partial Birth Abortion

Of all the available abortion methods, the aforementioned is the most dreadfully unbelievable. Indeed, wordy descriptions cannot accurately do this procedure justice, for it seems to be the absolute pinnacle of wickedness ever conceived of through the twisted workings of the mind of the natural man. An stone-cold and utter disregard for the beauty and sanctity of human life is deeply rooted in the practice, for who, in good conscience could procure or carry out such a deadly dealing and call it, "A lesser of two evils."  

Throughout my several months of research I've stumbled upon many a good sermon on the subject of abortion. In this author's opinion, no one pastor seems to be so aware and concerned about the practice and the ugly, sinful stain it has left on our world as Dr. John Piper. He devotes one Sunday a year to preaching the realities of abortion in light of the truth of Scripture, and I'm sure many more in seeking its speedy end. The term, "A lesser of two evils," causes me to reflect upon one of his sermons, although I'm not now entirely certain which of the many it came from. However I do know this, I was devastated and awestruck by the account of a conversation that Pastor Piper had with an abortionist. He was said to have begun the conversation with a solid attempt to convince the abortionist that what lay inside the womb was precious and deemed worthy of the title, "Human." Midway through his oration the Doctor stopped Pastor Piper short, saying something to the effect of, "John, you need not try and convince me that the womb holds a living creature. I am thoroughly convinced that the fetus is a human being. But don't you see? Abortion is a lesser of two evils and a necessary one. To deny a woman the right to do what she deems necessary with her body would be a much greater evil then the practice of abortion itself." So in the name of deadly goddess Choice, we are justifying the slaughter of thousands daily and millions yearly upon the alter of Free Rights. 

Now to a description of the method itself. The practice of infanticide does not originate with Partial Birth Abortion, but has cast its ugly shadow over human history for many centuries past. However, it has only recently become both medically and legally acceptable. One day, not too long ago, I had the opportunity to present this information to an older generation, my grandparents. The world was a very different place in their hay-day. It was a world where homosexuality was taboo, and families were raised under the mantle of the Church. Abortion was virtually unheard of and a gravely disproved of when contemplated - not to mention illegal. After presenting such information to my grandparents, two people who live without a computer and possess a somewhat sheltered frame of mind - depending only on the news to construct a view of the world, they were utterly horrified, exclaiming, "That's murder." It doesn't take a lot of information or a long acquaintance with the subject to create a solid conclusion. 

Partial Birth Abortion is defined well by its name. It is a procedure where a larger baby, one often able to live outside the womb with medical aid, is pulled out of the womb backwards by the abortionist and killed by the removal of his or her brain with a suction catheter. To offer further explanation, here is MD William Mudd Martin Haskell:

"Dilation and extraction takes over three days. In a nutshell, D&X (also referred to as Partial Birth Abortion) can be described as follows: dilation; more dilation; real-time ultrasound visualization; intact extraction; fetal skull decompression; removal; clean-up; recovery." 

As to the procedure itself:

"The cervix is scrubbed, anesthetized and grasped with a tenaculum. The membranes are ruptured, if they are not already. The surgical assistant places an ultrasound probe on the patient's abdomen and scans the fetus, locating the lower extremities. The scan provides the surgeon information about he orientation of the fetus and the approximate location of the lower extremities. The trasnducer is then held in position over the lower extremities. The surgeon introduces a large grasping forcep, such as a Bierer of Hern, through the vaginal and cervical canals into the corpus of the uterus. Based upon his knowledge of fetal orientation, he moves the tip to the instrument carefully towards the lower extremities. When the instrument appears on the sonogram screen, the surgeon is able to open and close its jaws firmly and reliably grasp the lower extremity. The surgeon then applies firm traction to the instrument causing a version of the fetus (if necessary) and pulls the extremity to the vagina. By observing the movement of the lower extremity and version of the fetus on the ultrasound screen, the surgeon is assured that his instrument has not inappropriately grasped the maternal structure. WIth a lower extremity in the vagina, the surgeon uses his fingers to deliver the opposite lower extremity, then the torso, the shoulders and the upper extremities. The skull lodges at the internal cervical os. Usually there is not enough dilation for it to pass through. The fetus is oriented dorsum or spine up. At this point, the right-handed surgeon slides the fingers of the left hand along the back of the fetus and "hooks" the shoulders of the fetus with the index and ring fingers (palm down). Next he slides the tip of the middle finger along the spine towards the skull while applying traction to the shoulders and lower extremities. The middle finger lifts and pushes the anterior cervical lip out of the way. While maintaining this tension, lifting the cervix and applying traction to the shoulders with the fingers of the left hand, the surgeon takes a pair of blunt curved Metzenbaum scissors in the right hand. He carefully advances the tip, curved down, along the spine and under his middle finger until he feels it contact the base of the skull under the tip of his middle finger.  Reassessing proper placement of the closed scissor tip and save elevation of the cervix, the surgeon then forces the scissors into the base of the skull or into the foramen magnum. Having safely entered the skull, he spreads the scissors to enlarge the opening. The surgeon removes the scissors and introduces a suction catheter into this hole and evacuates the skull contents. With the catheter still in place, he applies traction to the fetus, removing it completely from the patient. The surgeon finally removes the placenta with forceps and scrapes the uterine wall with a large Evans and 14 mm suction curette. The procedure ends."

I felt immediately numb after reading the above for the first time. How the abortionist could, "safely enter the skull," of a baby in order to put an end to its life is completely beyond me. Think carefully about this procedure - the doctor removes the baby in a breach position, but is careful to leave the head of the baby inside the mother. Consider what would happen if the baby's head were to suddenly emerge from the birth canal. The baby would be considered medically viable. For an abortion to be completed after such a turn of events would be legally deemed as murder. What transpires in the body of the baby during the period of time that he or she moves down the birth canal and into the outside world? Does this passage into the light of day create some change in the chemical make-up of the baby that causes it to become

"human?" No change, save a difference in location, can be noted. But does location determine person-hood? I am currently situated my living room as I write this paper. Now, is it logical to state that if I pass from the boundary of my living room and move into the kitchen I am no longer human? Such a notion would be deemed a foolish conjecture. Therefore, what role does location play in determining the person-hood of the baby? None whatsoever. 

Such is the plight of Partial Birth Abortion. The baby, dehumanized to the level of  "fetus," is removed from the mother as if it were nothing more then a tumor or parasite. The description offered by MD Haskell is coldly matter of fact, as if the doctor were describing a routine surgery. But instead of promoting and increasing longevity as doctors and surgery ought to do, abortion puts a brutal end to something that is supposed to be essentially beautiful. Oh, the magnitude of evils that mankind will be forced to make an account for on Judgement day! 

When things start to spiral downwards a little, self doubt occasionally follows swiftly behind. My first efforts in respects to making abortion unthinkable were crafted together into a Facebook group called, "A Review of Abortion - The Reality Behind the Term." The other evening, while checking my account, I stumbled upon a notice stating that some of my pictures had been deleted due to inapropriate content. I hunted around my personal profile for a time, trying to recall anything "offensive" that I might have posted. Suddenly it occurred to me that it must have been something from my group. I scanned my photos and quickly realized that a good deal of them were absent. Nineteen to be exact; all illustrating the results of abortion. Thus, I began thinking to myself: "Am I disgracing my God and the title, "Christian" through the posting of these pictures?" 

It brings me no surprise when the world calls my actions offensive. I was indeed, surprised that Facebook allowed me to post those pictures at all. The very fact that they remained untouched for so long was an unforeseen blessing! But when people who know me best (many of them being warm Christian acquaintances) begin to inquire as to why I'm posting such offensive images, I begin to wonder at myself. I question my motives, an action most worth my while. For I understand that when I wish to accomplish a good deed, sin is always intertwined and follows closely behind me. Indeed, the pictures are graphic. There is no doubt about it. But the historic pictures of the men and women who died under the siege of Nazi "discipline" are also graphic. Death by unnatural means brings many horrors along with it. But does it stand to say that because something is unpleasant, because the truth is unpleasant, we ought to turn a blind eye and shade ourselves from its view? Even though I question my own motives, I am not convinced that ignorance is called for in the situation of abortion.

Darkness should never be coveted, and ignorance has never served mankind well. Think back to the holocaust. All Germans were not Nazis. During this historical time frame many of them lead normal lives. They busied themselves with normal tasks. Picture the scene with me: "A German woman is outside gardening; her hands busy in the soil and her mind attentive to her work. Her daughter steps from the house with a basket of clean linens under her arm. She begins pegging them out on the line to dry, crisp and clean, in the sun. Suddenly, amidst the cheery sunshine of the day, a cloud of ash begins to float silently down upon the two workers. A redolent and putrid wave follows swiftly behind it; the smell of death fills the air. The women look up silently, well aware of this unwelcome cloudy visitor, then continue silently with their work." I am a poor orator, but the moral behind this simple illustration cannot be missed. The narrative is mere speculation, but it is based on historical fact. Many of the concentration camps lay a stones throw away from major cities. The occupants were well, but silently aware of what was transpiring mere miles from their doorsteps. Observe the testimony of concentration camp commandant, Rudolf HoB:

"We were required to carry these exterminations in secrecy but of

 course the foul and nauseating stench from the continuous burning of bodies permeated the entire area and all of the people living in the surrounding communities knew that exterminations were going on at Auschwitz." 

As I searched the internet in hopes of finding historical testimony to verify the simple narrative recorded above, my eye fell upon many weathered photographs painting the grim reality of Hitler's "Final Solution." Once again I stare - horrified by the pictures that accompany the lectures and information I find. There's something so striking about a picture, something that words alone cannot sufficiently express. It has been said that, "A picture is worth a thousand words." I strongly concur. Therefore, I must make it my personal occupation to ensure that all who are in my acquaintance see and understand (if they are so inclined) the reality of what abortion accomplishes. 

I write this not only to convince myself that these pictures are needed, but to shed some light on why I feel them to be essential. If my posting of said pictures have personally offended you then I must confess that I have mixed feelings about the "offense" that I cause. In a way, it is very good to be offended. I know that I am deeply offended by this pictorial evidence. One would have to be made of stone to remain untouched by the images that I lay open before your view. I post the pictures, not mainly to offend, but as a call to action. We must DO something about them, and relay the truth to our world that abortion kills a living being - not a mass of tissue or a simple lump of cells. 

We must take a cue from history and remember that the Nazis viewed the Jewish people as lowly and "inhuman." Because of that simple and destructive ideology the world found itself spectator to one of the most inhumane acts of all time; the slaughter of millions. And now we're privy to a similar holocaust. Only this time, we're killing the silent among us, the helpless among us; our own children. Every morning, we wake up, some of us enjoy breakfast, and then it's off to work. Know this: while we are going about our daily tasks 115,000 children are taken from within the safety of their mothers and discarded like trash. This holocaust might be occurring behind the closed and sanitary doors of clinics and hospitals but it is very real nonetheless. How are we going to react? Are we looking up in ignorance? Are we turning a blind eye? Are we guilty of "plugging our noses and ignoring the ash?" 

Ideas, Anyone?

Apart from my writings and many musings, I've done very little in the realm of real action to affect a change in the way people view the practice and results of abortion. I would imagine the goal of every abolitionist to be centered around the wish to make abortion a completely unthinkable evil. I desire to confront those around me with such a strong case for truth that they would be loathed to even consider abortion as a viable option. This goal seems exceedingly and entirely out of reach, but as they say, "Faint heart never won fair lady," or in my case,"Faint heart never affected abolition." 

Whether or not we see results, the Christian should strive to bring an end to abortion because it is an inferred command of God. To, "Rescue those who are being lead to the slaughter," (Proverbs 23) is no small task, and will require an unceasing amount of effort by a countless multitude of believers. A strong band of brothers with the Bible as our guide and the Lord of Hosts as our General will, I am persuaded, affect much positive change. Although the world may hate us and all of our efforts, there are those few who will, by God's grace, listen and be saved from blood guilt. May God grant us victory to overcome the hardness of men's hearts through the bold and loving proclamation of the truth. 

All of our most ardent efforts will be fruitless unless fully bathed in unceasing prayers of supplication. Striving without the help of God would most definitely be a loosing battle. I write the above to remind myself. Oftentimes I research and write about abortion without first praying that God would bless my efforts with fruit to the glory of His name. I find that I am far too concerned with the glory of my own name. I often fill my mind with many sugared thoughts, hopeful to receive the praise of others. Oh how nice it would be to focus on the essentials: the glory of God and the salvation of the unborn, both in body and soul. How lovely it would be to be absent of sin! 

I hope that my writings and wonderings are not in vain. There must be something else that can be done ... that MUST be done. I long to be admitted into the high schools in my area, especially in my home town, so that I might be able to present the reality of abortion to the young men and women in attendance. Many of the young girls, as well as their boyfriends, will doubtless come face to face with the prospect of abortion in their adolescent years. This is an unmistakable result of teenage sexual activity. I  so wish these young women to be well aware and responsible. I desire to expel ignorance, making absolutely certain that no one in my acquaintance will ever be allowed the excuse of believing that the fetus is simply a mass of cells or a simple blob of nothingness. One can easily abort nothingness without any regret. But the truth speaks for itself. and hard consequences result when one chooses to believe a lie.

So, for now I'm left to write and muse ... wondering what I can do to better leave an impression of truth in the minds of my friends and family. I should be quick to take my own advise and pray. I'm sure God will provide me with some stellar ideas! 

Let Us Be Loving ~ Abortion Is a Gospel Issue

Today I was graciously reminded that abortion is a gospel issue. Any action or thought that springs from self-gratification and ignorance to the fact that God's glory should be mankind's principle concern exemplifies a dire need for gospel truth. I do not wish to be ignorant of the fact that abortion often claims more then one life. Although it essentially robs precious existence from the children that are its target, oftentimes, abortion halts and destroys the life of its second victim as well: the woman seeking a simple "quick fix" solution. I sincerely believe that many women are unaware of what is being created and intricately woven together inside of their rapidly expanding wombs. 

Countless lies and half truths have been used to mask the reality that the fetus is indeed, a most fearfully and wonderfully constructed little being. In this author's opinion, nothing quite equals the majesty of experiencing a small glance into the delicacy of the womb. To pull files from my own precious memories, I can easily recall the first time I was graced with a peek into the beautiful and complicated world of my own uterus.  I was laying there on the table in a small darkened room; my rounded and slightly protruding belly exposed to the probing of the ultrasound instrument. For eighteen weeks prior to that special day I had been left with only my many wonderings and questions: was my baby developing properly? The room was silent as my husband and I watched the tech expertly explore the length and breadth of my womb. And then, as she turned the screen towards me, I was awestruck by the miracle that lay unfolding before me. There, before my very eyes, was my baby. The outline of his head was clearly visible, and one could effortlessly see the beautifully etched out profile of his tiny nose and lips. In amazement I can remember my self proclaiming, "Wow, so there IS someone in there!" I left the hospital that day with a roll of film as long as my arm, complete with a shot of two of the most handsomely crafted baby feet I had ever seen. Oh the wonder of the ultrasound machine!

Ultrasound technology is an essential tool, one that is significantly lowering the amount of abortions performed daily in our world. When a women gains access into the splendor that is woven throughout the darkness of her own womb, and is given the privilege to clearly view the little soul that is taking root and thriving therein, it is valuable pictorial evidence that abortion is indeed homicide. 

The choice to rid oneself of an unwanted pregnancy is oftentimes thought of as a necessity. Many women who find themselves in such a precarious situation are often scared and troubled. They know that they cannot possibly handle the responsibility of motherhood, and often base their decision to abort from on information provided them by a physician. "Oh, the fetus is a simple organism; a mere mass of cells," comes the soothing response to their inquiry. Many young women are content to leave their exploration of the issue at that; a simple mass of cells can be easily and unemotionally parted with. What's the harm? None whatsoever if the above conjecture is, in sure fact, a reality. This is why pictorial evidence is essential. The gruesome reality of what abortion does to the unborn, illustrated through pictures, does more then writing ever could. One look at a dismembered and shredded body of something that was, mere minutes earlier,  so alive and thriving does well to inform both the mothers in question and the general populace. 

Abortion is a gospel issue. Early on in my own research, an essential truth was brought to my attention through a series of sermons I had the grace to stumble upon. The speaker begged a question to the tune of: "What is the good of divorcing the gospel of God from the injustice of abortion? If we throw all of our efforts into striving to put an end to abortion without doing something for the souls of the mother's involved, then we will have failed." If the abolitionist disregards the necessity of the gospel in his fight against the injustice of abortion then the positive result will only yield the salvation of the body while completely neglecting the eternal soul. A clear presentation of the grace offered by God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ should always accompany our most ardent efforts to dissolve the practice of abortion. Through this offering, hope and relief from the bondage of sin will be clearly articulated, fetching the potential for the Spirit of God to work through His word and save his elect, both body and soul, from destruction. Therefore, like everything else in life, abortion is about God. It is evil, not only because it destroys a life made by His had in His image but also because it robs God of what is most precious in His sight; His glory. 

In the process of fighting for the precious lives of the unborn, we must be careful not to run roughshod over the women; the mothers. As Christians we must remember that, apart from the grace of God made manifest in our lives, there is no difference between the substance of the saint saved by grace and the murderer. God's saving grace through faith in Christ is the only difference; Christ's righteousness is our only standing. Therefore, we must incorporate Jesus' Great Commission into every aspect of our lives and ministry, seeking to care for the lost souls in our midst. Lord, give us love for these wounded and wandering women who oftentimes know nothing save their own pain, and care little for the life within them that they're destroying. Give us grace to reach these lost and hurting women with the gospel. May our focus be Your glory alone. Amen ~ 

 

The Wonder of the Womb

In all of my research on abortion, I am oftentimes faced only with the death and despair that so closely accompanies it. There is very little to marvel about, save when I marvel in horror, at the process of stripping a woman's womb of the precious life it holds, leaving only emptiness behind. One wonders what might have been if the pregnancy lay uninterrupted for the duration of the intended nine months. I have experienced the creative miracle of pregnancy firsthand, and now wish to glory in God's marvelous design of the womb, and its tiny occupant(s), in this blog.

Fast-forwarding past conception, when the fourth week after fertilization rolls around, the fertilized egg, or a mass of cells better known as the ovum, has already made it's way carefully around the bend of the fallopian tube and has securely attached itself to the uterine lining. By this time, the developing baby already has a designated gender and all the cells necessary to make him or her uniquely human. As the weeks continue, one can see the very fingers of God quickly weaving and sculpting this group of unique cells into a little baby bearing the 

direct imprint of His image. Oftentimes, before the Mom is even aware of her baby's existence, the heart has already begun to beat (week 5), the brain has begun to form (week 5), arm and leg buds begin to sprout (week 5), the eyes are starting to take shape (week 6) teeth begin to take root under the gums (week 7) and the tongue has begun to develop, taste buds and all (week 7)! 

On a somber note, to interrupt these pleasing images of the beauty and workmanship of creation and turn back to the subject of abortion, more then 90% of all abortions are performed in the first trimester. This means that by the time many women realize that they are pregnant with a speedily forming baby, the little life housed inside their womb is well on its way through developing all of its major systems and organs. Therefore, no abortion has ever simply removed an inconsequential, "blob of tissue," from the womb of a woman. Abortion is a deadly sort of robbery; stealing existence and forever halting the growth of a child who is one minute filled with vivacious life, and the next minute being torn to pieces to the tune of a roaring suction machine and consolation that "it" was simply a, "blob of tissue; a mass of cells."

King David's vivid description of the creative genius of the Lord can be seen most astoundingly in Psalm 139. It reads:

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed substance, in your book was written every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." (vs 13-16)

The above description, penned by the Holy Spirit of God through the hand of his servant David, differs greatly and most astoundingly from the opinions of today's physicians. They soothe and lull women who seek the quick fix of an abortion with lies and deception. This is why the ultrasound machine is of vital importance in the fight to abolish abortion. The ability to view what was, at the time Psalm 139, a secret which God alone held the privilege to behold, has graced the abolitionist with powerful ammunition to destroy ignorance and replace it with truth. The grace and ability to view all of the intricate wonders of the womb and the developing baby therein has served to save many a child and mother from horrors and consequences of abortion. Ultrasound has removed the misguided notion that there is only the potential for life present within the womb. For when one is able to observe the splendid frenzy of movements presented by a developing baby within the safely of the womb, there can be no doubt that life most assuredly exists.

The design of the womb is amazing indeed! The beauty present in the process of knitting bone, vessels, muscles and flesh together to create a human being cannot be surpassed elsewhere. To quote John Piper, it can only be described as, "God at work!" It has been silently mounted over the mantle of every womb since the beginning of time: God is most assuredly at work! Woe to the man who interferes with the creating hand of the Lord. Such action will only yield judgement and disaster. 

Abortion and The Bible

What does the word of God say in regards to abortion? Although abortion is never mentioned by name in the Bible, the truth that the Lord abhors the shedding of innocent blood is not hard to gather from the pages of scripture. I mentioned Proverbs 24 in my last blog and for review, can be found below:

"Rescue those being lead away to death; hold back those staggering towards slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?" 

Sobering words indeed, for God will not hold any of his children guiltless who stand aside and observe the destruction of the innocent with nothing save a mere sigh of regret. No, we must act and do so promptly, for millions lives are disposed of and laid waste due to the practice of abortion. Now is the time for action! If the church, the moral compass, of our world stands aside in procrastination, how can we expect the rest of the world, who knows not God nor loves His laws, to express any amount of outrage? 

Located below are some verses that speak of the workmanship of God in the crafting of our species. The Lord is not far removed from His creation as some pagan deities are said to be. Instead, He is intimately involved in the creation of every human being ever conceived. The womb of the pregnant woman wears the stamp and intricate handiwork of a God rich in creativity; the God of the universe who works with flesh, bone and muscle to weave the beautiful tapestry of humanity. Observe:

Genesis 2:7 ~ The LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Psalm 100:3 ~ Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Job 31:15 ~ Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?

Psalm 22:9-10~ Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.

Psalm 139:13-15 ~ For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.

Isaiah 49:5 ~ And now the LORD says - he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself ... 

Jeremiah 1:4-5 ~ The word of the LORD came to me, saying,"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."

Below are some extra verses for your consideration and reflection. As I read them I find myself grieved that I've spent my 21 years in ignorance and silence. Lord, give us grace that we might be as Jeremiah, bold in the proclamation of the Word of God. Let us fight discouragement and be unafraid. Running the risk of being hated and opposed by the world should not bother us, especially when the alternative is to be found guilty of standing as You would have us stand; strong and bold against injustice. 

Psalm 82:3-4 ~ Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

Exodus 20:13 ~ You shall not murder. 

Abortion Statistics

In order to grasp the full reality of abortion I find it necessary to remind myself of the facts and statistics that are the direct result of the practice. Since I am very much wired to forget the world and tend to focus singularly on my own troubles, I find that a brisk walk down memory lane to review the extensive and bloody grave yard of abortion provides the best stimulation for me to keep on racking my brain for different methods to fight to practice. But most importantly, aside from statistical and strong pictoral evidence, I find that I, along with all other Christians, have a Biblical warrant from God Himself to fight the atrocities of abortion. Although the Bible does not mention abortion specifically, there are many verses that speak very directly on the subject of rescuing and preserving the lives of the innocent among us. For example, one might use Proverbs 24 in reference to the support of pro-life advocacy :

"Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, "Behold, we did not know this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?" (vs 11, 12)

The above verse not only urges us to "rescue those who are being taken away to death," but offers a strong warning about claiming ignorance as an excuse for inaction. God knows the secrets of men's hearts, and none can escape judgement or discipline through trying to deceive him.

Below are listed some shocking statistics in reference to abortion in North America and the world in general. I read and recount them with a sober heart, asking myself, and inquiring of God, what must be done to put an end to this "holocaust of our times." 

Worldwide 

Number of abortions per year - Approximately 42 million

Number of abortions per day - Approximately 115, 000

Where do abortions occur? 83% of all abortions occur in developed countries and 17% are obtained in developing countries 

(@ Copyright 1996-2008 - Information courtesy of The Alan Guttmacher Institute {www.agi-usa.org}) 

The USA

Number of abortions per year - 1.37 million (as of 1996)

Number of abortions performed daily - Approximately 3,700

Who's having abortions? 

- 52% of women obtaining abortions in the US are younger then 25

- Women aged 20-24 obtain 32% of all abortions

- Teenagers obtain 20% of all abortions

- Girls under 15 years of age account for 1.2% of all US abortions 

- 64.4%  of all abortions are performed on unmarried women

- Married women account for 18.3% of all abortions

- Divorced women account for the remaining 9.4%

- Black women are more then 3 times as likely then white women to have an abortion

- Women who identify themselves as Protestants obtain 37.4% of all abortions in the USA

- Catholic women account for 31.3%

- Jewish women, 1.3%

- Women with no religious affiliation obtain 23.7% of all abortions 

- Shockingly, 18% of all abortions are performed on women who identify themselves as

 Evangelical Christians 

Why do women have abortions?

- 1% of abortions occur due to rape or incest

- 6% of abortions occur because of health problems regarding the mother or her child

- The remaining 93% of abortions occur because of social reasons. For example - the child to be born is unwanted or an inconvenience 

What is the result of an abortion?

An estimated 43% of all women will have at least one abortion by the time they reach the age of forty-five, with 47% of all abortions performed to women who have had previous abortions. 

These facts are and pictures are not only meant to convict us of our own inaction, but should also be considered as fuel to spur us on to good deeds of seeking reformation. Most importantly we should pray for God's mercy in opening the eyes of those in authority over us so that governments and entire countries will be enlightened to the destruction of abortion. The blessed result of, one day, being able to look back into our own history (as an entire population) and lament with sighs and tears that we knowingly killed the most vulnerable amongst us for the sake of convenience, may yet be ours to experience. There is always hope. That is my comfort and my prayer. 

A quote by William Wilberforce, lover of justice and historic abolitionist, illustrates the desires of his heart on the matter of abolition:

"So enormous, so dreadful, so irremediable did the (slave) trade's wickedness appear that my own mind was completely made up for abolition. Let the consequences be what they would: I from this time determined that I would never rest until I had effected its abolition."

Strong words indeed; words that can be easily applied to the fight against the continuation of abortion in our day. Let us each each take up the cause of abolition on any and every issue that is presented to us by God with such an attitude as the man, William Wilberforce.