Dear President Trump...

 Dear President Trump,

I write as one who has enthusiastically promoted your ideas and agenda, defended you against foolish and mean-spirited criticism, and regularly prayed for God’s richest blessings on your life and family and leadership. 

However, I have become especially and increasingly disillusioned with two areas in your administration. 1) The fumbling away of the massive advantage you had won over Iran. Remarkably now, these arrogant, unrepentant terrorists who remain viciously anti-American and anti-Israel, are getting away with it! Getting away with mass murder, with jihadist intentions towards Israel, and with winning from the U.S. and other nations yet more millions of dollars as they profit from blackmail and violence. Why, oh why the hesitation, the second guessing, the gullibility, the hypocrisy? When your friends (Israel and the genuine conservatives in the Republican Party here) are alarmed and disappointed at your actions (or, in this case, the lack thereof), and your unprincipled enemies like Hillary Clinton are patting you on the back, something stinks very badly. 

Please, President Trump, get this thing over with!

And then 2) Your pro-life statements notwithstanding, sir, your administration’s ongoing promotion of abortifacient poisons is – quite -- literally killing millions of preborn kids and inflicting serious damage on the bodies and souls of thousands and thousands of moms. Please, Mr. President, stop the double-mindedness you’ve shown to date on this critically important issue and start today to truly protect human lives from the abortionists’ bloodthirsty designs.

Most sincerely,

“The Monstrous Crime of Abortion: An Old Testament Perspective.”

A careful look at Exodus 21:22-25 results in a profoundly important understanding of the Creator God's value of preborn human life. And though the passage has been repeatedly misused by those who seek to “soften” the crime of abortion, even explain it as excusable violence, Exodus 21:22-25 is actually a strikingly clear passage -- when translated correctly.

Indeed, the opportunity for pro-abortionists to misinterpret the passage is aided by poor translations of the Hebrew text. For instance, the original Wycliffe translation and the Douay-Rheims version of 1899 insert words into the passage that are simply not in the authentic Hebrew text. Instead of simply translating the Hebrew words, the scholars preparing both the Wycliffe and the Douay-Rheims versions made remarkable presumptions, laying down their own ideas rather than honestly transliterating the text as it stood. Their errors were quite serious in that they created for some readers of the Bible a false impression that the life of a child in the womb is not as valuable in the sight of God as the life of the mother. 

I print those poor translations below.

Wycliffe -- “If men chide, and a man smiteth a woman with child, and soothly he maketh the child dead-born, but the woman liveth over that smiting, he shall be subject to the harm (he shall be subject to a fine), as much as the woman’s husband asketh (for), and as the judges deem (appropriate). Soothly if the death of her followeth (And if her death followeth), he shall yield life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, sore for sore.”

Douay-Rheims 1899 -- “If men quarrel, and one strike a woman with child, and she miscarry indeed, but live herself: he shall be answerable for so much damage as the woman’s husband shall require, and as arbiters shall award. But if her death ensue thereupon, he shall render life for life. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”

You can easily see how these versions suggest that the preborn baby’s life isn’t measured by the same standard as the mother’s. The passage thus mistranslated implies that if the child is harmed in a premature delivery caused by the men’s fighting, it is merely a cause for a fine. Only if the mother is harmed does the strict law of retribution kick in. Does such a conclusion fit in with other Scriptures that deal with the sanctity of prenatal life like Psalm 139:13-16, Jeremiah 1:5, Luke 1:21, Isaiah 49:15, Job 31:15, Psalm 22:10, and so on? No, they don’t. Not even close. So, what is going on in Exodus 21:22-25?

As I suggested, the problem simply arises out of poor translations and, of course, the desire of certain people to minimize the seriousness immorality of abortion. Abortion advocates have thus sought to use this passage to claim the Mosaic law did not consider preborn boys and girls to be worthy of the same value as adults. But more authentic, more responsible translations present a much different case. 

Here, for example is the passage taken from Young’s Literal Translation: “And when men strive, and have smitten a pregnant woman, and her children have come out, and there is no mischief, he is certainly fined, as the husband of the woman doth lay upon him, and he hath given through the judges; and if there is mischief, then thou hast given life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”

Let’s note a couple of important Hebrew words that are necessary for a full understanding of the passage. In the first case, the word translated “mischief” in Young’s version above is the Hebrew word “ason.” It means harm, hurt, injury. It is only used three other times in the Old Testament (Genesis 4:24, 38 and 44:29) where the word is used each time to describe Jacob’s fear that physical harm (including death) might befall his beloved son Benjamin. The second important word is one that isn’t here in the text at all. That is “lah,” the Hebrew word for woman. If God through Moses wanted to specify that only the woman’s life and health were to be protected by the law of retribution, He would certainly have used it here. But He didn’t. Rather, the statement is left open, meaning that lasting damage inflicted upon any innocent person must be paid by the law of retribution. An eye for an eye.

The natural application of the Hebrew text would be that if a premature birth occurs as the result of a pregnant woman getting between two fighting men -- but there follows no “ason” to either the mother or her children (the Hebrew here is a plural noun, broadening the application to twins or more) -- then the penalty is merely a financial one. However, if there is “ason” (again, injury, let alone fatality) to any innocent party, then the law of strict retribution is then applied. Rather than being a passage that undermines the value of life in the womb, a careful look at the authentic Hebrew text proves the exact opposite.

Let’s allow the Amplified Bible (another literally-based translation) to also weigh in here: “If men fight with each other and injure a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely and the baby lives, yet there is no further injury, the one who hurt her must be punished with a fine paid to the woman’s husband, as much as the judges decide. But if there is any further injury, then you shall require as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.”

But what’s the deal with the law requiring a financial penalty of the fight’s instigator -- even if the premature birth doesn’t seriously harm either the mother or her baby? The commentary by reformer John Calvin explains: “Since it could not fail but that premature confinement would weaken both the mother and her offspring, the husband is allowed to demand before the judges a money-payment, at their discretion, in compensation for his loss.”

But let’s not stop yet. Let’s hear a bit more of what Calvin said about this passage. It’s a good way to dismiss further the attempted twisting of the Scripture by pro-abortion liberals. Calvin writes that Exodus 21:22-25 might “at first sight seem ambiguous, for if the word death only applies to the pregnant woman, it would not have been a capital crime to put an end to the foetus, which would be a great absurdity; for the foetus, though enclosed in the womb of its mother, is already a human being, and it is almost a monstrous crime to rob it of the life which it has not yet begun to enjoy. If it seems more horrible to kill a man in his own house than in a field, because a man’s house is his place of most secure refuge, it ought surely to be deemed more atrocious to destroy a foetus in the womb before it has come to light.”

“On these grounds,” Calvin continued, “I am led to conclude, without hesitation, that the words, ‘if death should follow,’ must be applied to the foetus as well as to the mother. Besides, it would be by no means reasonable that a father should sell for a set sum the life of his son or daughter. Wherefore this, in my opinion, is the meaning of the law, that it would be a crime punishable with death, not only when the mother died from the effects of the abortion, but also if the infant should be killed; whether it should die from the wound abortively, or soon after its birth.”

I hope this brief exposition helps those of you who may have (or someday will) come across people who try to pervert the true meaning of Exodus 21:22-25.

Shining the Light Through Letters: A Few Examples

Here are a few sample letters from yesterday’s 2 Vital Signs letter-writing parties...

Dear President Trump, 

I want to commend you for your tireless work on behalf of the American people in the areas of the economy, defense, immigration, law and order, and in many other ways. We so appreciate that you endure the continuous “slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” from so many on the left. Thank you and keep fighting. You are prayed for daily.

You have done more for the pro-life movement than any president -- thank you. However, I do know you “signaled” compromise on the Hyde amendment and I needed to write with a strong encouragement for you to NOT concede anything to the Democrats on this critical matter. In addition, I urge you to push HHS Secretary Kennedy to ban the horrendously dangerous abortion pills. These are terrible for unborn babies, of course, but they also can be downright deadly for moms. Mr. President, you can cement your place as the “great defender of the defenseless” by pursuing these things with greater zeal. Thank you.

Again, we pray for you daily that you would seek God, hear His voice, and obey Him with courage, wisdom, and strategy. 

With great appreciation and respect, John Malek

Dear Congressman Flood,

I’m asking you to do all you can to support the House version of Senator Josh Hawley’s Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act. Mifepristone and misoprostol are both highly dangerous to women (though the truths about this has been carefully and maliciously hidden). At the very least, these drugs need to be stripped of their protection from American lawsuits from the harms (including death) they are causing to women.

Perly Schoville

Dear Senator Fischer,

Recently, a dear friend and neighbor who has been part of our crew that travels to Colorado every summer to hike a 14er, finally received his green card. This was after 10 years of waiting and praying and trying to do everything right! 

His case highlights the bizarre condition created by the Biden administration where illegals flooded into the United States in uncountable numbers -- illegal aliens that also included the most vile, barbaric, and anti-American criminals. Well, President Trump finally acted to stop that travesty and we, like almost all Americans, are deeply grateful to him. 

However, we now need to pursue the parallel action of ensuring justice AND America’s healthy future; namely, reducing the foolish, counter-productive red tape and ideological bias that keeps valuable, pro-American immigrants from making this country their legal and beloved home. Let’s get this done ASAP, okay?

Denny & Claire Hartford

Dear Vice-President Vance, 

I can’t thank God enough for your winning the election as our Vice-President. Your kind of leadership is what makes this country so richly blessed. And we pray that God continues to protect you and give you wisdom and courage for the task. The enemy of our soul is roundly defeated whenever we Christians put our faith and trust in almighty God. The key to God’s favor is to stay humble so He can pour out his blessings to all who respect Him. 

Love in Christ, Don Kohls

Governor Pillen,

I want to commend you for your continued support of pregnant moms and their unborn children. In addition, your advocacy for sane and fiscally responsible legislation is greatly appreciated. And finally, thank you also for working to keep men out of women’s sports. All of these things are deeply appreciated. With much respect,

John Malek

Dear Mr. Musk,

Thank you for all you have done to help fight fraud and corruption and wasteful spending. I know you took a lot of criticism and even endured great financial loss because of your patriotic service. I am so thankful for what you did with DOGE and all of the hard work and sacrifice since then. Please keep up the good work! Thank you.

Hope Golden

Dear Secretary of War Pete Hegseth,

Thank you immensely for your sincere, urgent, humble, real, and beautiful prayer on March 19th that you modeled for all Americans regarding our prayers for our troops. I thank the Lord that God has placed you in this position for this crucial time. May our Lord bless you richly and your service to our country. 

Sincerely, Debbie Pederson

To the staff at Immanuel Village, especially Vicky and Sammy,

Just a quick thank-you for your ongoing and ever delightful friendship to the ministry of “When Swing Was King.” It is such a delight to present the shows there and you girls are always so helpful and encouraging and fun to work with. We know your impact is profound in so many ways there, but we certainly are grateful for your services to us! 

(The card was signed by everyone at both letter-writing parties. In addition, there were several other letters or cards that were signed by the entire assembly.)

Dear Congressman Bacon,

A few points: 1) Please fight for the Hyde Amendment;

2)  Please co-sponsor the House version of Senator Hawley’s Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act and vigorously act in its behalf;

3) Please support the President’s bold moves against the drug cartels even as you fight the pernicious dangers of legalized marijuana here within our country.

4) Please support enthusiastically the SAVE Act and all other efforts against voter fraud. 

Denny and Claire Hartford

To CBS News, 

Your efforts to revitalize the network by cutting inefficient programs and staff and your move to bring CBS News away from orbiting solely around a liberal pole are to be heartily praised. Also, your recent expose of the massive hospice fraud in California was terrific. It was an excellent example of the type of quality journalism and healthy concern for American values that CBS News once exemplified. Way to go!

Denny and Claire Hartford

Dear Secretary Rubio, 

I’m so thankful that God has raised you up into this leadership position. I pray for you daily and I know He hears our prayers. May His Holy Spirit give you the wisdom and encouragement to navigate the crazy waters our nation has found itself in. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May His light shine upon you and give you His peace. 

Don Kohls

Dear Justice Thomas,

We write with deep and abiding gratitude for the bold, brave, and wise leadership you have shown on the Court. Your efforts have, without a doubt, gone a long way in preserving American ideals -- for at least a while longer! Thank you so much!

As an encouragement I send along an inspirational poem by the pen of William Cowper.

Blessings, Denny and Claire Hartford, Omaha, Nebraska

Dear Department of Homeland Security,

We are so pleased to see the effectiveness of the new U.S. policies regarding illegal immigration. Way to go! However, I write to urge that the parallel action also become of grand importance; namely, easing the legal confusion and waiting times for welcoming all of those immigrants our nation DOES need -- people who love America’s historic ideals and want to be a part of our grand country!

Denny and Claire Hartford

Dear Mr. Sasse,

We are just two of the many, many people across the country who hold you in very high esteem and appreciation. We did so when you were one of our Senators here in Nebraska and we do so now with your impassioned, visionary, and wise counsel to Americans regarding politics, culture, family life, and the liberating gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you, dear brother. Stay the course for our Lord; our redemption draws nigh! 

Denny and Claire Hartford

Dear Mr. President,

Among the many things for which we are most grateful to are your steadfast, bold, and pro-American moves in our military and economy and border security. Thank you! We are also pleased that your efforts are succeeding in protecting American lives from the critical dangers of illegal drugs coming in from foreign thugs. But Mr. President, we are also aware that the culture is under grave danger from marijuana -- that extremely mind-numbing, soul-corrupting drug that is so much more powerful (and available) than the “flower power” days of my misspent youth. Please keep after that danger as well. 

Denny Hartford

Dear Mr. President,

The latest report reveals the heart-wrenching crisis of the persecution of Christians around the world. Indeed, that persecution is the most violent and widespread ever in the earth’s history and there looks to be nothing stopping it getting worse -- nothing unless the USA gets serious about interceding in behalf of those innocent people under the sword of harassment, terrorism, imprisonment, and murder. America’s intercession must include clear and bold speech from US leadership which will better enlighten (and warn) the world about what is happening. But the victims of persecution (and the cause of justice itself) also deserve U.S. intercession which uses our strategic positioning and economic might to punish the murderers and manipulators. 

Please, President Trump, use your influence to move ever forward America’s defense of freedom of faith and conscience around the world. Thank you so much!

Denny & Claire Hartford

Chemical Abortion -- An Open Letter

Dear Senator Fischer,

We’ve had a lot of talk about “nibbling around the edges” when it comes to the scourge of chemical abortifacients, particularly the widespread use of mifepristone (the powerful drug now responsible for the majority of abortions in the U.S.) but finally, Senator Hawley is directly addressing the primary issues with the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act. 

This bill seeks to rightly strip mifepristone of its longstanding approval from the Food and Drug Administration. After all, it is a profoundly powerful poison out that most barbarically kills reborn boys and girls as well as leaving women to face such severe complications as heavy bleeding, sepsis, and worse, usually without any genuine medical oversight. It is a lucrative business for abortionists, but a tragic and evil one.

As Senator Hawley emphasized, “Only Congress can address this situation. Only Congress is placed to regulate the flow of interstate drugs. Only Congress can withdraw the FDA’s approval rendered way back in the Clinton administration for this drug that has proved to be inherently dangerous and inherently prone to abuse. Only Congress can act. Congress should act. And we are here today to call on them to act.”

Senator Fischer, please join him quickly as a co-sponsor of the Safeguarding Women from Chemical Abortion Act and work enthusiastically for its passage.

Thank you.

“Lawlessness Ablaze”

It is an all too obvious and very tragic truth that our world is absolutely ablaze in lawlessness. Absolutely, out of control ablaze. Nevertheless, there remain Christians who stick their head in comfortable sand and try to ignore the flames, while other believers naively downplay the extraordinary degrees of rebellion, blasphemy, and bloodshed of our time, insisting that modern society’s lawlessness is no worse than previous eras in history. The facts are terribly clear, however, that the ever-escalating levels of lawlessness which Holy Scripture reveals as an alarming signal of the end times can be seen daily all around us. 

And the evidence of this lawlessness ablaze is not merely shown in the actions of the primary lawless deeds themselves, but also in the gross inefficiency, indifference, even enablement of our broken judicial system. Indeed, rather than acting as firemen dousing the flames, our modern politics, courts and prosecution policies actually aid and abet the arsonists. For instance, members of my generation can recall days when there were appropriate (and swift) penalties for crimes. But now? Justice is drowned in a complicated, corrupted sea of reduced charges, plea bargains, low (even cashless) bail, early parole and probation policies, laughable “community service” options, and so on. It wasn’t that long ago that “three strike” laws and extended punishment guarantees for gun crimes would put career criminals away for life. But today’s policies excuse and coddle thugs, quickly putting them back on the street to rob, rape, and murder again. Capital punishment even for such crimes as murder, rape, kidnapping, and treason? Forget about it.

Drunk and chemically impaired drivers were once taken from behind the wheel and jailed instead of being given pass after pass until they finally cripple or kill someone. Case in point? Just last week, 70-year old, Grammy-nominated musician Roderick Macleod was out walking his dog when he was run over and killed by a car driven by Shannon Godbout, a career criminal with more than 100 arrests with an additional 82 court warrants served against her over the years as well as 40 traffic citations.

How about how vandals, shoplifters, looters, and rioters are dealt with nowadays? Did you steal less than $1,000? Okay, see you later. Destroy an exquisite, centuries old work of art as an act of anti-Israel protest or climate change activism? Oh well; there’s still plenty of paintings and sculptures. Pay a small fine and we’ll let it go. 

Need more evidence still? Consider the overwhelming corruption of our elections; the flood of illegal immigration which so dangerously threatens the Republic; legalized gambling which has now gone far beyond Las Vegas and into every home in the nation through our phones and internet; sex trafficking; endless scams whereby cruel, conniving thugs stealing money from the most vulnerable; shameless vagrancy (often involving public drunkenness); aggressive begging; the multitude of traffic violations so routinely practiced that police cannot begin to keep up; and rampant drug abuse which destroys both the user and the public peace. And yes, this includes the increasing dependence of young and old on legal, yet still mind-numbing “medical” marijuana dispensed by an endless number of neighborhood shops.  

And, of course, the most horrific crime of all, the bloody lawlessness of the wholesale slaughter of preborn boys and girls via savage curettes, monstrous suction machines, and cruel chemical poisons. Oh yes, lawlessness is ablaze in our day.

Another key element of  today’s lawlessness is its arrogant and highly hypocritical posturing. For while all of these crimes are being ignored (even defended), society leaders, politicians and the police, the judges, and the press are targeting grandmas who pray outside abortion chambers instead. Or parents who resist turning their kids over to the dastardly clutches of the NEA and the government schools. Or coaches who dare lead their teams in prayer. Or a homeowner who uses a legal firearm to defend his family from savages staging a home invasion. Or parents who protest sexual deviants invading their daughter’s bathroom and locker room. Or a preacher who dares to keep his church open when told by government bullies to stay closed. Or a pregnant mother who refuses to get jabbed with a new, untested, and potentially lethal drug while proven medical treatments and medicines are denied her. Or a Christian who dares to voice biblical truths on a college campus. And on and on and on.

No, make no mistake. The furious, wicked flames of lawlessness (the Greek word is often translated as transgression as well) are unprecedently burning out of control just as the Bible predicted would be the case in the last days. The Lord Jesus spoke of this lawlessness in speaking to His disciples (recorded in Matthew 24) as He warned them of wars, hatred, persecution, false prophets, earthquakes, famines, and a dramatic increase in lawlessness.

And though 2nd Thessalonians refers to the anti-christ, the ultimate ringleader of this wickedness, as “the man of lawlessness,” it’s important to remember that the initial force behind this surge of sin in the last days is man himself. The anti-christ will be judged for his rebellion against the Law (more specifically, against the Lawgiver Himself), but he isn’t responsible for the righteous judgment directed against human sinners. No, that’s the wages of our sin that must be paid. The anti-christ will ride the crest of this wave of wickedness, but it became a wave in the first place because men and women surrendered to their own unlawful desires, opinions, and deeds, becoming a law unto themselves. 

This is emphasized by a quick look at the Greek word translated as “lawless” in the passages I’m citing...and will cite. The Greek word is anomia -- nomia meaning law and the prefix a meaning without. The word itself could suggest either an absence of law or even an ignorance of the law. But the most common interpretation of the word by conservative Bible scholars is that lawless (and lawlessness) points to a transgression of the law, a deliberate denial of the law’s authority. This fits. For even as we use the phrase, “ignorance of the law is no excuse,” a person who crosses the line unwittingly, still crosses the line. However, more relevant is that an appeal against the judgment of God because, “Golly, I didn’t know any better” denies the striking fact that I did know better!  For not only does the Law exist wherever God is -- and that is everywhere -- making the essence of His Law (the emanations of God’s own character) also omnipresent. But also because the Bible explains that because man is created in the image of God, His law is a part of our very nature. His law is written on our hearts. And what laws of God we do understand, we have broken. We are guilty before His law; we are even guilty before our own. (Romans 2). No one has an excuse. The lawlessness of our time has been riled up by us. 

So, let’s look at this a bit more closely, not only in how the social lawlessness of the end times plays out in history, but in how the lawless spirit in one’s soul plays out in his personal destiny. All men are sinners; all men are transgressors of His Law, whether it is His Law written on stones or His Law written on our hearts. And so, beyond our individual plight of standing before the all-holy God, we must own up to our contributions to the wave of lawlessness which is now engulfing the world, the wages of which are the “second death” and a terrible, eternal separation from God. That is, unless we can find a substitute, one who could satisfy the demands of God’s righteousness, a completely sinless man who could intercede for us and himself pay the penalty of our sin. 

And, to be sure, that’s the exact definition of a Christian; that is, a sinner who has received by simple faith the gift of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross in their behalf. This is the gift which is forgiveness, cleansing, eternal life. This is the path of rescue, the path of redemption, the only path of freedom. Jesus “gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness.” (Titus 2:14). Indeed, trusting in Christ’s loving sacrifice liberates us forever from both the penalty and the power of our lawlessness. (Hebrews 10:17, Romans 4:7,8)

Thus we see the Bible teaching that lawlessness creates four major tragedies. First, it corrupts each human person and increasingly enslaves them. That’s right, Romans 6:19 reveals that our lawless deeds actually lead to yet more lawlessness. Second, that lawlessness sets us up for divine judgment. (Again, unless you let Jesus step in and act as your substitute.) The third tragedy is that individual lawlessness pollutes the group (family, nation, world) and stimulates social disorders that end up running unchecked...as see happening today. And finally, the fourth tragedy is that lawlessness will usher in the eschatological crisis. This, I believe, is the wave of lawlessness that will culminate in the Rapture of the Church and the beginning of God’s holy judgment upon the world.

And what then of the Christian’s attitude and action in this eschatological crisis? Here are a few of the responses I think are the most important.

* Our culture’s blazing lawlessness should cause us to be ever more careful to avoid getting burned ourselves! For instance, we must thoroughly respect and love God’s law and not be tempted to ignore the devastation lawlessness creates. We cannot ignore lawlessness; we cannot make light of it; we cannot coexist with it. Our gratitude and love for Christ must show a daily devotion to holy living and a bold proclamation of biblical truths.

* Biblically-minded believers in Jesus should be the most ardent champions for law and order. We should be active in this responsibility in prayer and proclamation, in our families and churches, in our neighborhoods and nation. So be informed. Be a watchman on the wall. Be a vocal defender of justice. In whatever ways are open to you, be an opponent of barbarism and crime and false teaching. Stand in the gap for the innocent and needy, especially the unborn children, the victims of persecution, the victims of sex trafficking. And be a firm friend of the police and truly conservative public officials. 

* And speaking of being vocal, you might also find, as I have, that talking about the dangers and shame represented by our society’s increasing lawlessness is an excellent springboard for evangelism. Your neighbor (perhaps even your hard-hearted, leftist in-law) most likely sees what you do and realizes -- to some degree at least -- that modern culture is coarser, crazier, and downright scarier than the world he grew up in. You may discover then that he is more open than ever to consider the biblical view of reality including divine creation, the indispensable rightness of moral law, sin and the subsequent judgment, and, most certainly, the gospel. For Jesus is the world’s only hope.

* Finally, one more very important response to the lawlessness of the present age is to let it stimulate your confidence in and yearning for the day when the government of the entire world will be on Christ’s shoulders -- that forever day when peace reigns in redeemed hearts, when the glorified bodies of God’s children enjoy the splendors of the New Earth, and when delightful harmony is the constant in our relationships with God, one another, and all of his creation. Wow!

So to wrap up this devotional...It is of the utmost importance to frankly admit that the lawlessness of the end times is blazing all around us, even to accept the evidence that is accelerating on its way to a foreordained doom.  But Christians serve the living and almighty God Who not only protects us from human enemies, demons, and the league of the anti-christ, but Who also empowers us with the Holy Spirit to fight for justice, righteousness, and truth while we can. Therefore, this is a most excellent time to “win our spurs” in our Lord’s service as watchmen on the wall, as advocates, as ambassadors, as “wolf fighters,” and as teachers and evangelists. And while we bravely take on these honored challenges, Christians should look forward with joy and confidence to the day of our King’s eternal victory -- a day we will share with Him, His angels, and the whole family of the redeemed. Come, Lord Jesus!

"Why Protest Outside An Abortion Chamber?"

October was an unusual month for us and I share a few of those happenings in this edition of the Vital Signs Ministries news letter. But the primary feature of the letter is a brief essay which explains the 5 purposes served in a Christian's peaceful, prayerful protest of abortion chambers. 

Check it out at this link from the VSM website.

Denny & Claire Join Nebraska Right to Life at the State Fair

Earlier this week, Claire and I enjoyed once again the opportunity to help out Nebraska Right to Life by manning their information booth at the State Fair in Grand Island. We took the Monday evening shift and the Tuesday morning opening shift and, as always, we were honored to partner with the excellent pro-life champions of NRL. And an added blessing this year was having friends join us for the outreach – Ralph & Carolyn Tate on Monday night and Virgil and Becky Patlan for the Tuesday morning shift. That was great. 

Among the highlights of these shifts were a lot of wonderful conversations with teenagers -- teenagers from Nebraska Christian School, from a community of special needs kids in Hastings, several musicians from a variety of the high school marching bands who were at the Fair that day, from a nearby high school which was using the Fair as a field trip, and more. 

But we also had plenty of profitable visits with adults, including people wanting the free fetal models we were offering, Christians who wanted to come by and thank us for being there at the Fair, a number of curious vendors who had booths in the building, a goodly number who agreed to sign our petition urging Congress to completely defund Planned Parenthood ASAP, and many casual conversations with people who were drawn by our pro-life information, video, fetal models…and our winsome selves!

Thank you, Father, for the opportunity to serve You and the cause of “the least of these” through this important outreach. And please protect, encourage, and use for Your wise purposes all who will be serving at the NRL booth for the rest of this year’s State Fair.

Pro-Life Quotations? We Got a Bunch of 'Em!

Looking for a few striking and impressive pro-life quotes to grace your conversations, social media communications, and public presentations? Well, then you need to check out the remarkable lists of quotations that are on the Vital Signs Ministries website. As a matter of fact, you'll find three large groups of quotes on this VSM page -- enlightening and challenging quotes like these...

“The hairsplitting difference between formed and unformed makes no difference to us.  Whoever deliberately commits abortion is subject to the penalty for homicide.” (Saint Basil)

“When we consider that women are treated as property it is degrading to women that we should treat our children as property to be disposed of as we see fit.” (Pioneer feminist Elizabeth Cady Stanton)

“It seems to me as clear as daylight that abortion would be a crime.” (Mahatma Gandhi)

“Abortion does not kill a potential human person, it kills a human person with great potential.” (Anonymous)

“Probably nothing has been as damaging to our cause as the advances in technology which have allowed pictures of the developing fetus, because people now talk about the fetus in much different terms than they did 15 years ago. They talk about it as a human being, which is not something that I have an easy answer on how to cure.” (Harrison Hickman, pollster for the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League)

“The best decision I ever made was keeping my baby.” (Poet Maya Angelou)

“The Bible makes it clear that God sees the unborn infant not as a piece of superfluous biological tissue, but as a person created by Him for life.” (Billy Graham)

“Abortion kills the life of a baby after it has begun.” (1963 pamphlet by Planned Parenthood)

Letter-Party Update (With Examples!)

A couple of days ago, the Vital Signs Ministries quarterly letter-writing parties were held at our home with 7 letter-writers in attendance at both the morning and evening editions. And beyond those present, there are a couple more concerned Christians who will be using our information to write letters themselves in the next few days. (And we sure hope you might join them Just let us know and we will send you the target sheet and the appropriate address list.)

Our targets this time around? Here’s the prepared list:

1)) To the President, Cabinet members, Senators, and Congress: Abortion Pill...F.A.C.E. Act... Persecution of Christians...Confirming Trump’s nominees...   Pursuit & prosecutions regarding RussiaGate...Getting out of the United Nations...Border policies...Lawlessness...etc.

2) To the President, Cabinet members, Senators, and Congress: “Attaboy” messages: thanks, encouragement, prayer reminders (and reminders of unfinished business)

3) To friends, pro-life heroes, Christian ministries, and others: “Attaboy” messages: thanks, encouragement, prayer reminders

4) To the Nebraska Attorney General: Opposing abortion pills, the effect of abortion pill “shield laws,” lawlessness, and 7-OH (“gas station heroin”)

5) To the Texas Governor: Appreciation and encouragement for redistricting actions

6) To Disney/ABC and Steve Harvey: Protest of Celebrity Family Feud

7) To Chip & Joanna Gaines: Protesting their promotion of same-sex “marriage”

8) To Fox News: Enough of the establishment media and “bikini body” stories

9) To companies retreating from DEI & LGBTQ foolishness: Good move (so far)

10) To Congress, Nebraska AG: “Gas Station Heroin”

And how about a few sample letters from our efforts? Here you go...

Dear Mr. President,

Thank you, President Trump for all the ways you are making America great again! However, I do want you to pursue further and faster getting rid of the FACE Act and stopping the distribution of the deadly abortion pill. In our ministry we are working hard every day to help moms and their babies and seniors who have been discarded by our society; we are asking you to please help us in that enormous but oh-so-critical mission. Thank you, Mr. President. CH

Dear Secretary Kennedy,

Thank you very much for opening an investigation into abortion pills. Unlike medicines which help diagnose, cure, or prevent disease, these pills kill innocent babies as well as endangering the lives and damaging the health of the mothers. Please continue to lead a thorough investigation to uncover and reveal the truth about abortion pills. As a Christian, I thank God for and pray for you. Thank you for seeing if the pills can at least be regulated if not banned. Thank you very much. Sincerely, IS

To Nate Grasz and the team at Nebraska Family Alliance who are continuing to fight the good fight,

Thank you is not adequate but, nevertheless, thank you for all you are doing to stand for righteousness in these days. God sees you as you honor Him. Thank you for continuing to seek Him for wisdom and discernment. He will continue before you, guide, and strengthen you as you serve Him. Thanks to His work through you, great things are happening in Nebraska. With love and respect. MR

Dear Tractor Supply,

I am so pleased that you changed your unfair DEI policies and got back to hiring people who are best at what they do. We have a Tractor Supply store near us and I will enjoy ending our boycott and going back to shopping there. Thanks again. Good move! CH

To Director Gabbard,

I want to thank you for your hard work in declassifying documents that demonstrate the high crimes that have been committed by our intelligence agencies against the American people and against President Trump. This is incredibly important work that you are doing and we can but imagine the fierce headwinds that oppose you -- spiritual and natural. I want you to know that I am very grateful and I pray for you regularly that you would have divine strategy and courage and guidance. I also pray that God will guard your heart soul and body. Regards, JM

Dear Disney/ABC,

Okay, so I do not watch your channels. Well, not since the days of Fess Parker portraying Davy Crockett anyway. And I suppose I still feel a bit disappointed because my sleeveless shirt didn’t fit the dress code of Disneyland back in 1968. However, it is now on grounds of morality that I will be speaking to family, friends, and fellow church members about the debased nature of your programs in recent years. I have cautioned folks before, but this most recent travesty was really over-the-top. I’m referring to the episode of Celebrity Family Feud in which profane innuendos were exchanged between the supposedly Christian host Steve Harvey and an all-transgender team who were trying to win money for prostitutes! Good grief! When I first heard of this, I figured it was some kind of spoof, something cooked up by SNL or the Babylon Bee. But alas, I discovered it was all too true.

And so, I will be encouraging my friends to drop ABC, drop Disney, drop any plans they might have had for your amusement parks and merchandise, and to pass the word along to others. Please reverse course. You have already shamed Mickey and Minnie and Goofy and all the rest by your bizarre actions, so please stop it. And reverse course. DH

Dear President Trump, 

I want to thank you for your tireless efforts in the many areas that you are trying to build back America, including fighting against the satanic influences that are staining and endangering our country. We pray for you and your entire cabinet that God will bless your efforts. I especially applaud your support of Israel since they are the most obvious indicator that God is in control of history and that His plan (as shown in the Bible) is heading towards its ultimate climax. God bless you and your family. Ephesians 2:8-9 JL

To the John Deere Company, 

This letter is to express my appreciation for your company’s decision to retreat from the DEI and LGBTQ foolishness you had been following. Your changed position will certainly prove to convince consumers that supporting your company once again is a good thing -- and it will result in financial success for your company as well. Thanks again. Respectfully, MW

Dear Secretary Hegseth,

Thank you very much for defending the United States. Especially thank you for supporting Israel, stopping Iran, and containing Russia. I’m a Christian and a Republican...and I pray for you and others in the government. Please continue to support a strong stand for our ally Israel and defend them against their enemies. Please also do what it takes to stop Putin in Ukraine. Thank you for stopping so many extreme terrorists and, in doing so, making the United States and the world a safer place. Sincerely, IS

Dear Vice-President Vance,

Thanks for your bold, inspirational leadership. You are providing our nation -- and the world -- the kind of honest, courageous, and relevant service we have so long needed. Stay the course!

A few of the issues that most concern me? Much stricter regulation of the abortion pill... the repeal of the FACE act...the diligent pursuit of lawbreakers including the lying schemers behind RussiaGate...the complete and permanent defunding of the mega-abortion corporation, Planned Parenthood...serving as the best advocate of persecuted Christians (both here and abroad)...and getting a real grip on the lawlessness that so sadly marks our nation nowadays. Thank you for your attention to these matters. DH

Dear AG Mike Hilgers,

I’m writing to express my concern over the sale of “gas station heroin” (7-hydroxymitragynine, aka 7-OH) in some retail outlets in our state. The incredible risks to our youth need to be addressed quickly. Thank you. JL 

PS: I am also very opposed to abortion pills and their distribution in the state. What can be done about that?

Governor Pillen,

I have recently become aware of a new opioid threat to our community. 7-OH,  a derivative of the kratom plant which is reportedly 13 times as potent as morphine! This product is sold and marketed to children in the form of candy flavored gummies. I’ve asked Attorney General Hilgers and want to ask you as well -- is there anything we can do about this product? The thought of our young people being harmed by this is just too much. I hope we can do something...and soon! Regards, JM

Texas Governor Greg Abbott,

Thanks for your strong leadership for conservative values and the rule of law in your state. It is so refreshing to have governors stand up to the whiny, America-belittling, America-blaming Democrats. Keep it up! We are praying for you. CH

Dear Mr. Lindstrom,

As citizens from the district you represented well when in the Nebraska Unicameral, we are very interested in your candidacy for Nebraska’s 2nd District in the U.S. Congress. However, we were disappointed that we were unable to find anywhere on your website a strong and clear statement regarding your pro-life position. Did we miss something? Or perhaps, are you missing something; namely, the chance to underscore your pro-life positions which we know would attract and energize the pro-life organizations, churches, and communities which will be necessary for your successful candidacy? Sincerely, DH

An Open Letter Regarding Pro-lIfe Measures & Leftist Propaganda

Versions of the following letter are being sent to Senators Fischer and Ricketts, Congressman Bacon, President Trump, and Vice-President Vance. I encourage you to consider writing similar advocacy correspondence.

Dear Senator Fischer,

I wrote last week on behalf of Vital Signs Ministries here in Omaha, asking for your energetic support of the pro-life priorities which remain after the passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill” -- the complete and permanent de-funding of the mega-abortion profiteer that is Planned Parenthood, repeal of the F.A.C. E. Act, a serious scaling back of the poisonous abortion drugs that are killing millions of preborn children as well as severely injuring so many of those children’s mothers, and increased conscience protection for those who refuse to perjure their souls by supporting in any way such blasphemous actions as abortion or sexual perversion.

Thank you, Senator Fischer, for your prayerful attention to those concerns.

However, I also wanted to send along my concerns about a few other important issues, issues that are of grave concern to conservatives across the nation. 1) Would you please co-sponsor and work for the passage of S.669, Disengaging Entirely From the United Nations Debacle Act of 2025 or the DEFUND Act of 2025.

And 2) Would you please join in the move to reverse the historical revisionism, leftist ideologies, and anti-religious trends which have marked the progressives’ control of the Smithsonian, the National Art Gallery, and the National Park Service?

Again, thank you.

The Latest Word...On Letters

No, we don’t wait for P.A.L. Nights (Vital Signs Ministries quarterly series of letter-writing parties) to express through letters and cards our education and advocacy, our gratitude and encouragement, and our protest. Indeed, our letters represent an important -- and continual -- opportunity to shine our lights for Jesus Christ, to be a preservative seasoning in our culture, and to “do justice” in practical ways. So, they are too valuable a witness to lay idle in between those letter-writing parties. Of course, we look forward to our P.A.L. Nights (we have actually have added morning editions nowadays) and we sure hope you plan on joining us for our next scheduled letter-writing parties on August 5.

As I said, however, we make it a regular part of our week to engage in a bit of “correspondence outreach” and, from time to time, I share examples here on Vital Signs Blog. Here are 3 of the latest. (And note -- When most relevant, I provide links to articles that give you fuller picture of the situation that prompted my letters.)

1) Dear Nebraska University,

Just a quick note to add my disappointment and protest of the contemptible bigotry demonstrated by the drag performance mocking the Catholic mass for which the university rewarded a doctoral degree from the Glenn Korff School of Music. Though not a Catholic, I find it deeply troubling for such an intentionally blasphemous program to be sponsored by the university.

Catholic group demands U. Nebraska ‘held accountable’ for drag show mocking Mass (Gabrielle Temaat, Catholic Fix)

2) Dear National Park Service,

 Please stop the programs of ideological fix the foolish historical revisionism you’ve begun with the Mellon Foundation and others regarding as in the changes in the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. These plans, as currently expressed, show a terrible lack of concern for historical accuracy as well as for the good of the Republic.

A Woke Jefferson Memorial?: The National Park Service should halt current efforts to make the memorial’s once-excellent basement museum into a condemnation of the author of the Declaration of Independence. (Jeffrey H. Anderson, City Journal)

3) Versions of the following letter were sent to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Speaker Mike Johnson, members of the Nebraska delegation, and President Trump.

Dear ------------------

Well, the "Big Beautiful Bill' has passed. Thank you for your efforts. However, that bill failed to address many of the yet-critical disasters created by previous administrations. And I'm appealing to you to finally make these things true priorities in the next phase of legislative action.

1) The complete and permanent de-funding of the mega-abortion profiteer that is Planned Parenthood. 

2) Repeal of the F.A.C. E. act.

3) A serious scaling back of the poisonous abortion drugs that are killing millions of preborn children as well as severely injuring so many of those children's mothers.

4) Increased conscience protection for those who refuse to perjure their souls by supporting in any way such blasphemous actions as abortion or sexual perversion.

We're Told That Chemical Abortions Don’t Count

The establishment press like to report that abortions have fallen to historic lows -- and to the press that seems to be a bad thing. However, even when reported statistics do suggest fewer abortions are being committed than previously, the most relevant abortion fact is completely ignored. The statistical reviews only count surgical abortions and, this is important to note, that aggregate number comes from the abortion businesses themselves. And those businesses have repeatedly shown to severely under-report the numbers. Why? Well, in the case of America’s largest abortion company, Planned Parenthood, they under-report the numbers for public relations purposes. Wanting to present itself as a responsible charitable organization, Planned Parenthood takes great pains to hide their true intentions; namely, to sell abortions. And they sell a lot...way, way more than they desire the public to realize.

But the second and most important truth relevant to the reportedly decreasing number of abortions is that the numbers of preborn children killed by poisonous drugs is soaring to unimaginable highs. Indeed, the most conservative estimates suggest that 60-70% of all abortions in America are via chemicals like RU-486 and the “morning after” pill. And that’s not even adding to the horrific total those preborn kids whose lives are ended by the abortifacient properties of the tragically misnamed birth-control pill. No, none of the children destroyed by these lethal poisons are being counted by health officials.

America’s downward trend in the surgical abortion rate over the last two decades involves several factors -- the effects of pro-life laws, the spread of pro-life education, the increased awareness of fetal development through ultrasound and fetal surgery, the compassionate work of pro-life pregnancy aid centers, and a greater spirit of compassion towards the innocent among today’s youth.

But, let’s face the truth, the primary reason the abortion statistics are down is because those numbers are cooked. The abortion industry (and its friends in the old guard media) are manipulating the math by ignoring altogether the means by which the majority of abortions now are committed. This not only provides cover for the chemical abortion industry, I’m afraid that it also provides false comfort to pro-life advocates. The sad, alarming fact is that our culture (as a whole) is no more interested in genuinely defending the sanctity of life than before the Dobbs decision.

What do we then do? Pray harder, light more lamps of truth to penetrate the ignorance and indifference of modern society, and keep working to provide compassion and justice so that abortions are understood by more and more citizens to be immoral, selfish, and cruel acts of violence against innocent preborn babies – whether the murder weapon be curette, suction machine, or poison pills. 

For more information on this critical matter, I encourage you to check out:

* “The Real Emmanuel Moment” (This exposition of Scripture reveals one of the clearest, most compelling reasons why people should revere, appreciate, and protect human life from its very conception onwards. You’ll find it in the Articles Section of the Vital Signs Ministries website.

* “The New Abortionists: Chemical Abortion in Contemporary Culture” (Also to be found at the Vital Signs Ministries website, this is an illuminating interview with a highly acclaimed medical researcher and OB-GYN physician Dr. Tom Hilgers and a Vice-President of Pharmacists for Life.)

* “Views on Abortion From Church History” (Throughout its history, the Christian Church has vehemently opposed abortion as a heinous, pagan act of violence. These quotations forcefully illustrate this fact. But, important to note, most of the quotations demonstrate opposition to chemical abortion.)

* “Without Decisive Action Against The ‘Kill Pill,’ The Hard-Won Victory Of Dobbs Will Be Rendered Meaningless” (Tony Perkins, Harbinger’s Daily) This just published article is very enlightening and instructive.

Are Prayers About Politics Important?

In addition to a Christian’s prayers of worship and gratitude, prayers for spiritual guidance and empowerment, prayers for gospel breakthroughs and victories in one’s daily spiritual battles, and intercessory prayers on behalf of loved ones, should we even consider prayers touching politics and culture? Are such pedestrian, secular matters “spiritual enough” for our prayers? 

Well, let’s hear from the apostle Paul:

“Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior...I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” (I Timothy 2:1-3, 8) And...

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phillipians 4:6,7)

Well, there you go! This is why I have begun to occasionally post prayer targets relevant to our cultural moment. (See Vital Signs Blog posts “For the Watchmen on the Walls: Prayer and Advocacy Priorities for 2025” (December 13); “After the Election -- Round 2 (Including My Top 10 Pro-Life Requests of the New Administration)” (November 21); and “After the Sigh of Relief: 7 Post-Election Observations” (November 8) as examples.)

To join me in this prayer project takes only a minute or two -- just about the time it takes to read through the list.  So, now that you get the idea, I hope you’ll join me in this prayer opportunity. 

* The Islamic jihadists and the Communists are stepping up their violent persecution of Your Church, Lord. Please stay the hands of the wicked even as You pour out Your abundant grace and power upon Your people. Also, we entreat You to push back the increasing attacks on Your people in the West too.

* Revelations of just how odious and corrupt the Deep State has become continue to shock and alarm Americans. Lord Jesus, as You cleansed the Jerusalem Temple of malevolent men, please clean out the “bad guys” working on America’s destruction from the secret, sorted halls of power. Bring to light the darkness and decadence of these villains. And rally more and more citizens (especially church leaders) to oppose the demonic schemes of this Deep State.  

* As if the Russia/Ukraine war wasn’t enough...and the evil machinations of Iran and other Arab terrorists against Israel were not enough...and the saber rattling of such evil regimes as China and North Korea were not enough --- now we have India firing missiles at terrorists in Pakistan! Dear Father God, bring peace to our troubled world. Most of all, we pray that the Prince of Peace Himself will enter the hearts of many, many people as they see the effects of sin in the world and turn to Jesus Christ in repentance and saving faith.

* Freedom of speech is under terrible attack not only in Communist and Islamic nations, but even in places like the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada. Lord, please clear the paths of freedom and come strong against the father of lies who is so intently fighting against truth -- truth of any sort and any degree -- being broadcast. And, speaking of lies...Lord, please  dismantle the “establishment media” and especially let Your people begin to connect to healthy, honest news sources.

* Thank You Lord for the increased revelations about the squalor, illegality, meanness, and barbaric bloodshed practiced by Planned Parenthood. Please bring these strongholds of abortion to total ruin. And bring the lies that are promoting and protecting the killing of our preborn kids (including those dying horrific deaths by cruel and poisonous pills) ever more to the devastating light of Your truth.

“Don’t Be Neutral on Abortion”

In this month’s edition of the Vital Signs Ministries newsletter,

Denny talks about the March of Dimes’ “neutrality on abortion” and the extreme moral danger of Christians adopting the same attitude. 

Check it out at this link.

Chastity: The 5 Most Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does chastity mean? 

Simple. In the context of sexuality, chastity is refraining from sexual intercourse before marriage -- and then practicing fidelity, understanding, and kindness during marriage.

2. Why should I practice chastity? 

Well, there are a whole lot of reasons including the often-overlooked spiritual values of purity. But here are a few specifics:

* You won’t have to worry about an unplanned pregnancy, a very real prospect for the sexually active. And yes, pregnancy is quite common even when various forms of “birth control” are being used. For instance, birth control failure rates among American teens are almost 20%. And that includes those condoms that advocates of “safe sex” (a tragic misnomer, indeed) are always pushing. Scientific fact? Condoms fail in pregnancy prevention 18%-35% of the time!

* You’ll be free of sexually transmitted disease. 12 million people contract a STD every year. That’s 33,000 people every day! And remember, besides “safe sex” not only being an effective defense against pregnancy, it isn’t all that safe for you in itself. For instance, condoms are not effective in preventing you from acquiring, say...Chlamydia, HIV/AIDs, or the Human Papilloma-virus. Yipes!

* You won’t have to deal with the loss of self-respect, loss of innocence, worry, distractions from important life goals, guilt, a ruined reputation, exploitation and so on. Plus, you’ll not be burdened with “damage control” problems (physical and/or emotional) that prior sexual involvement inevitably brings into your marriage.

3. But what if I really love my boyfriend (or girlfriend)?

 Isn’t having sex okay then? 

No; it isn’t. True love is about commitment and loyalty. It is serving and honoring the other person, seeking their very best. It is not exploitive.Authentic, self-sacrificing doesn’t push for momentary, risky, physical pleasure being paramount in the relationship.

A couple dedicated to one another in marriage exemplify genuine love, a relationship that values one another’s total personal (spirit, intellect, emotions, dreams and aspirations) and not only the physical.

4. How can I say “no” without losing my boyfriend (girlfriend)? 

Set your standards high and don’t compromise. Realize that the person who insists on having their way physically is not someone who has your best interests in mind. That’s not love. That’s merely using you which is a very bad precedent for your life together...even if you manage to stay together for awhile. Don’t settle for less than real love.

5. I have already had sex.

So, I guess it’s too late for me to think about chastity, right? 

No, not at all. It is never too late to begin doing the right things. You can always start over. And, as a Christian, I certainly stress the availability of forgiveness and empowerment that comes from believing in Jesus Christ. No one was perfect except Jesus. And He paid your penalty and mine when He was crucified. A new start is what Christianity is all about. And a practical application of that wonderful truth is this -- chastity is within our grasp today. Yesterday’s sins and hassles don’t need to enslave us. Let’s start fresh and pure and resolved to get it right this time.

Look at it this way. Say you’ve done something foolish and spent all the money in your savings account. Does that mean you can never start saving money again? Of course not. Despite the seriousness of the loss, you simply start from here on.  It’s the same way with your sexual lifestyle. 

Whatever has happened before, realize it is time to start “saving” again. Begin right now to save sex for its intended purpose -- and that’s the delightful, exciting, bonding experience you will share with your future spouse. And among the dividends of your “saving sex” for the right person and the right time are all those terrific benefits to your health, your heart, your mind, and your true love.

Chastity? It’s a winning lifestyle any way you look at it.

Planned Parenthood Is Taking Billions of Your Tax Dollars

An excellent 1-minute clep to pass along to friends...and your Senators and Congresspersons.

EPS Event Inspires 800, John & Mary Ann Kellogg Honored

 Claire and I were honored to be the guests of Dr. Ed and Sandy DeSimone at the Glow fundraising banquet for Essential Pregnancy Services last night. It was a great evening and among the special highlights were the conversations around the table, the unique and inspirational address by keynote speaker Steventhen Holland, and the excellent news that the EPS Board had confirmed interim Director Dennis Waggoner to be the new Executive Director. 

 But we were also delighted that The Spirit of EPS Award for 2025 was given to pro-life heroes (and our dear friends of longstanding) John and Mary Ann Kellogg. In fact, you can watch right here the brief but very moving testimonial video EPS presented to the 800 or so assembled at the CHI Center last night.

 

Why A Pro-Life Witness Outside Abortion Businesses?

Claire and I and many of our close friends have participated in a peaceful, prayerful pro-life witness and sidewalk counseling outside abortion mills for over 40 years. Here are 5 quick reasons why.

1) The presence of peaceful, prayerful pro-life advocates outside an abortion clinic has a profound and ongoing effect on those with abortion appointments, on the abortionist and his/her employees, on the people walking or driving by the business.  It provides effective (and memorable) messages regarding the wrongness of abortion, the availability of alternatives, and the offer of forgiveness of abortion sins through the mercy of Christ’s gospel. 

2) A pro-life witness outside an abortion business means that men and women -- even those who ultimately decide to commit the abortion -- will forever remember that someone was there to plead with them, “No, don’t do this. Please let us help you and your baby.”  They will retain in the memory of their abortion experience that someone was standing up for their child…and for the mother herself -- for her spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being. Such memories provide a persuasive incentive for repentance, to seek forgiveness and healing from the God Who delivered His Son to die for mankind’s sins.

3) Being regularly at an abortion clinic and coming face to face with the persons availing themselves of the demonic opportunities for child sacrifice fuels, as nothing else can, one’s commitment to fight against abortion on all other fronts. Political action?  Spiritual intercession?  Crisis pregnancy work?  Pro-life education?  Chastity campaigns?  Efforts to de-fund Planned Parenthood?  Medical ministries? Use of the arts to rebuild a culture of life, love, and justice? 

All of these (and more) are profoundly stimulated by a person’s being there at the very doors of death, being regularly reminded by just what the stakes are in this fight.

4) Pro-lifers outside abortion mills save lives by dissuading people from aborting their children...even when they are not aware of their impact. For instance, a winsome pro-life witness challenges the consciences of would-be abortion clients, oftentimes encouraging them to forego their appointment and drive on home. Even clients inside the place will sometimes change their minds and leave.  And, of course, among the dozens or hundreds or thousands who drive by and see peaceful protestors who carry beautiful pictures of babies and signs with such kindhearted messages as “Choose Life,” “Mother and Child: Love Them Both,” and “Life: What a Beautiful Choice,” there will be countless numbers of people who will be moved to reconsider their opinions on abortion. Do you not expect that the Lord carefully tends those seeds of truth thus sown? Do you doubt that people will take what they’ve seen and heard into future meditations, conversations, and especially, abortion temptations? Oh yes; the presence of pro-life advocates outside a place where preborn boys and girls are barbarically destroyed will provide illumination and spiritual conviction that goes far beyond what we can imagine.

5) Because my honor as a Christian is at stake.  Where such brazen, violent injustice is occurring, how can I refuse the opportunity to testify against it?  Think about it -- what does it mean to the reputation of the Church (not to mention her sense of moral priority) if children are brutally murdered in our neighborhoods without us even raising our voices in principled protest?  How much is our evangelism and discipleship tarnished and weakened if we do not take seriously such charges as Jeremiah 22:3 and Isaiah 1:16-17: “Thus says the LORD, ‘Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place.’” And “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean. Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Reprove the ruthless. Defend the orphan. Plead for the widow.”

Fewer and fewer American Christians bother nowadays to go in front of abortion mills to pray and give pro-life witness. That is an ominous warning of how far we have been cowed by the world around us.  We have become indifferent, callous, distracted, and wimpy. Nevertheless, the grace of God remains available to us all -- grace that forgives and cleanses, grace that yields wisdom and strength, grace that yet can bring personal and cultural revolution.

Our marching orders are quite clear. We read them in the Scriptures already listed. And we read them in many others, like Psalm 82:3,4: “Vindicate the weak and fatherless. Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.  Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.” And Proverbs 24: 11,12: “Deliver those who are being taken away to death, and those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back.” And James 1:27: “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

Giving public witness to the sanctity of life in this darkened and depraved culture is certainly not an easy thing.  But it remains extremely high in the values expressed by our Lord. And that’s why we do it...and why, by the grace of God, we will continue to do it. 

Wanna’ come along and join us?

Who Will Speak Up for the Unborn Child?

This afternoon Pastor Doug Russell from Herman Community Church sent over a link to "Who Will?", a 1989 recording by DeGarmo & Key. Though a veteran pro-life activist for more than 40 years, I had never heard this song. But  boy, I'm delighted I finally got round to it. Thank you, Doug, for your VERY encouraging remarks and for sharing this inspirational song. I couldn't help but do the same.

   

It's in his image they're created

Each one a precious gift of life

How can we steal away their future?

What gives us the power? What gives us the right?

Who will stand up for the children?

Who will fight the battle for them?

Who will speak up for the unborn child?

They long for life with every heartbeat

They speak with tiny hands and feet

But who will help our nation hear them?

It is up to you and it is up to me

Who will stand up for the children?

Who will fight the battle for them?

Who will speak up for the unborn child?

Who is gonna be the voice

For those who have no say or choice?

My heart tells me what I must do

It is up to me and it is up to you

Who will? (we will)

Who will? (we will, we will)

Who will speak up for the unborn child?

Who will? (we will)

Who will? (we will, we will)

Who will speak up for the unborn child?

Who will stand up for the children? (we will)

Who will fight the battle for them? (we will, we will)

Who will speak up for the unborn child?

A Top 10 Pro-life Priority List

A Top 10 Pro-life Priority List

(Encouraged for Lawmakers

by Vital Signs Ministries & Friends)

1) The defunding of Planned Parenthood.

2) The appointing of genuine pro-life people to places of high influence in the new administration and, of course, also in the judiciary.

3) The immediate release of all pro-life advocates who the Biden administration has thrown into federal prisons because they dared pray in front of an abortion mill.

4) To reinstate the Mexico City policy and cut off all other funding to anti-life agencies and programs.

5) To rescind all Biden administration orders and policies that seek to force radically immoral abortion/gender/sexuality/indoctrination practices on Americans.

6) To end the pollution of our nation’s water system from the dangerous chemicals contained in abortion pills.

7) To use the power of the federal government to defend the sanctity of life rather than undermine, even criminalize, that noble purpose.

8) To actively enforce the Comstock Act, a law that governs how the Postal Service deals with the mailing of abortion poisons.

9) To restore the real meaning of Title IX.

10) To do whatever possible to help build a culture of life in America -- a culture that applauds and encourages adoption, that protects freedom of religion and conscience from all attacks, that prohibits Big Tech from maintaining a monopoly on information, and that assists traditional values regarding sexual morality and healthy family life.