O Heart of Christ, LEAD ON!

Sir James Douglas left his castle to support Robert the Bruce, king of Scots in a war for independence from the tyrant Edward Longshanks. 

The English seized his fortress and held it to strengthen their presence in the land.  Douglas determined to take it back.  Dressed as simple sheepherders, he and his men intentionally moved their flock past the castle.  To the oppressors from the South, it looked ripe for the picking.  As they expected, the English greedily opened their gates and rushed them intent on chasing away the men and stealing their sheep.

What a surprise it was when they met hardened Scottish knights and warriors instead of timid shepherds!  Douglas' force took advantage of the English shock and swiftly entered the gates that had been carelessly left open in their haste.  Soon the fortress was again in the hands of its master.  This bold move reminds me of the verses below...

"In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory,

And for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,

And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment,

And for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate" (Isiah 28:5-6).

The brilliant strategic mind, astonishing audacity and fierce loyalty of Douglas the Good was a blessing to his king and the people of Scotland.
They united against the tyrant "Longshanks" and used to Scottish terrain and ingenius tactics that would give them the advantage.

At the Battle of Bannockburn, the two armies arrayed for battle.  Before the clash, the army of the Scots knelt in prayer on the field.  

Seeing this from a distance and mistaking it for a surrender to him, King Edward exclaimed, 

"See how they beg for mercy!"

One of his men answered, "Yes, but they ask it from God, not from us...these men will conquer, or die on the field".

Soon after this battle, Scotland enjoyed freedom from England for a season.

After the death of King Robert the Bruce, Douglass was entrusted with the heart of his king, which was encased in a silver casket on a chain.  Later as he was leading an army across Europe, a nearby king pleaded for his aid against the invading Moors that were devastating his people.

Sir James Douglas soon found himself and his men in the face of a dread foe, which, after much fighting, still overwhelmed the Scottish defenders.  Douglas himself became mortally wounded.  The noble knight knew he did not have much time left.

There was one more chance of victory.  He rallied his company of knights together for one last desperate charge.

Advancing, Douglas the Good held the silver case above his head twirled it round and round.  Then shouting, "O heart of Bruce, lead on!" he flung the heart of the king into the thick of the enemy host.  Douglas and his knights galloped into the fray after it.   By the end of the battle, the Scots had won, though the heroic Douglas lost his life.

The old shield of the Douglas family was silver with three silver stars on a blue chief.  To commemorate this last gallant exploit of the great knight was added the red heart of Bruce, later surmounted by a royal crown.

As soldiers in the host of Jesus Christ, waging war against sin, the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, you and I must not lose heart, but cleave to and smite with the Sword of the Spirit, the holy word of God (Ephesians 6:17).

Let us not be weary in well doing (Galatians 6:9).
By faith, let us "wax valiant in fight" (Hebrews 11:34).
Let us ever be mindful of our king, Jesus Christ (II Timothy 2:4).  

Let us shout, "O Heart of CHRIST, lead on!"

Abortion must be abolished.

Have You Struck your Colours?

Who was the greatest naval hero from the Revolutionary War?  I propose that it would be Captain John Paul Jones.  

He was instrumental in establishing the traditions of courage and tenacity that were followed by many American seamen for generations.  This indomitable figure on the waters of war was born in a gardener's cottage in Scotland. While still a youth, he went to sea, and by the age of 21, was a merchant ship master.  Years later he was residing in Virginia and took up the patriot's cause.

Volunteering early to serve in his adopted country's virgin navy in the War for Independence, it was his hands that raised the Continental colors on board the flagship of the first fleet of the American Navy.

This Naval officer is remembered for his determination and unwillingness to consider surrender when the slightest glimmer of hope for victory still burned.  Though taking the battle to an overwhelming foe, outmanned and outgunned, he was not one to shun danger or risk, as is demonstrated by this declaration of his: "I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast, for I fully intend to go into harm's way."

Jones commanded a number of vessels in his time of service, including PROVIDENCE, ALFRED, RANGER, ARIEL, ALLIANCE and most famously, BONHOMME RICHARD.

In fact, it was on this date, the 23rd of September, back in 1778, that John Paul Jones had his most renowned sea battle.  He was embroiled in conflict against the British warship H.M.S. SERAPIS.  After the BONHOMME RICHARD began to take on water, and fires broke out on board, the British commander asked Jones if he had struck his colours.  Jones replied with a shout, 

"I have not yet begun to fight!"  

Three hours later, it was the British commander who surrendered to HIM.

September 23rd is also my birthday (a few years later, of course).   

There is a statement that has become very dear to my soul in the warfare in which we are engaged.  I desire to embody its truth through the grace of my Redeemer and Lord of Hosts, Jesus Christ.  

I also yearn that my Christian brethren would take heart and be of good courage in THIS generation, remembering why we are here.  That same statement hearkens back to the mindset of Captain Jones. 

It carries the same thrust and zeal as "I have not yet begun to fight!"

What is the statement?
"There is still time to win a battle 

before the sun goes down."

Have you struck your colours?  Is your courage and commitment flagging?  Are you fallen?  Look to the Captain of our Salvation, and renew your strength in Him!  In Christ alone, all strength is found.  In the face of overwhelming odds, 

This day, as ever, Jesus is KING.

No matter the foes, no matter the fears, no matter the floods, no matter the foreboding, no matter the frailty of my flesh, my fealty is to the everlasting God, to Whom it is said, in the midst of lamentation: 

"Great is thy faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:23).

In His name, and by His grace, we serve in this generation, to be His ambassadors, emissaries of His kingdom, speaking the truth in a world that loves lies.  

To worship and warship "in Christ".  

Let His banners go forth.  Let His name be known and His colors be flown, seeds to be sown, and light to be shone.

Psalm 60:4 "Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah."

Psalm 20:5 "We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions."

Let us, who are of the day, stand today, even through the eleventh hour, in the harvest field, and the field of battle.

I Thessalonians 5:8 "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation."

This was the theme of my first blog post:
There's Still Time to Win a Battle Before the Sun Goes Down: The Reason Behind the Name "Time to Win a Battle" Blog

ABORTION MUST BE ABOLISHED.

Twins are a Double Blessing, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN CULTURES WHO DIDN'T THINK SO!

The Lord recently gave us twins--our little Henry and Isobel were born at the end of 2017!  And whenever we are out in public with our precious cargo, we are sure to be stopped by strangers who want to see them and talk with us about our double blessing.  Many times the person is a twin, had twins, is related to twins, or never saw real twins before.  

After a couple weeks of this happening, we saw a great opportunity to use people's fascination with our babies as a springboard to share the Gospel and open their eyes to Abolition.   Below is the fruit of that desire.  It is wonderful to have something like this, filled with truth, to hand to those who have stopped out of genuine interest!  And these brochures have always been received with excitement.

Twins are a double blessing!

CAN YOU IMAGINE A CULTURE IN WHICH TWINS ARE DEHUMANIZED, REJECTED AND MURDERED? 

Below is the account of an individual lived in such a time and place! 

Mary Slessor (December 2, 1848-January 13, 1915) was a missionary of the Gospel to Calabar, Africa (now part of Nigeria).

One of the evils she quickly encountered in their culture was TWIN KILLING.  Out of fear that one baby was a demon, when twins were born, they were both brutally murdered (abandoned in the jungle to starve or be eaten by wild beasts),

This was an accepted practice, and had been a wicked part of their society for hundreds of years.

Mary's heart was broken and her spirit overwhelmed.  What was a Christian to do?

I. ASSISTANCE -- Mary searched out and rescued babies in the wild bringing them into her home to raise them.  She saved hundreds of children in this way.

II. AGITATION -- Mary confronted the culture by calling the families, the tribes, and the chiefs to repent of the evil (often risking her own life to do so).  She agitated the government
by the exposing the evil--bringing the Gospel into conflict with it--and demanded the the protection of the victims by law through the abolition of the murderous practice.

Mary's prayer: "Lord, the task is impossible for me, but not for Thee.  Lead the way and I will follow.  Why should I fear? I am on a Royal Mission.  I am in the service of the King and Kings!"

DURING MARY'S LIFETIME, TWIN KILLING, AN ENTRENCHED PRACTICE FOR CENTURIES, WAS ABOLISHED.  

She is a national hero of Nigeria, still honored to this day.

We should rightly be horrified that the murder of small, innocent humans was a normal, allowed occurrence among a people!  And we should rightly rejoice that Mary courageously stood against this evil and engaged for its abolition.

BUT LET US CONSIDER OUR OWN SOCIETY:

Presently in the United States, over 3,000 innocent girls and boys are killed every day through a practive that has also become acceptable in our culture.  But these precious children are murdered while still in the womb, with the consent of their own mothers.  In America, we have so DEHUMANIZED the prebor child, that 2 babies are REJECTED and burtally MURDERED every single minute of every day.  Our society calls this practice healthcare.

But abortion is not healthcare.  It is homicide in the worst degree!  It attacks the most vulnerable of victims--not out of fear of evil spirits, but out of selfish desire. It is a holocaust of the greatest proportion--practiced under "color of law" in direct violation of the U.S. Constitution and the higher Law of God, Who said, "Thou shalt do no murder" (Matthew 19:18).

ABORTION IS THE #1 KILLER IN AMERICA
A HUMAN SACRIFICE TO THE GOD OF SELF.

And, like Mary Slessor, our heart must be broken--our spirit overwhelmed with the knowledge of this reality.

WE HAVE ALLOWED THIS.  We as individuals, and as a people, need to repent of our part in this holocaust--whether that part be COMPLICITY in, COMPROMISE over (of which the Prolife Movement largely is guilty), or COMPLACENCY about (as most churches are) the violence!  These precious babies are our neighbors, and we are specifically commanded to:

"Love thy neighbour as thyself." -- Jesus   

What is a Christian to do?

The same things that Mary Slessor did.  We must strive to see this great evil brought down through both ASSISTANCE and AGITATION.

"If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;  If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?" Proverbs 24:11-12).

We must seek to defend and rescue those being taken to their death, in the same way that we would want someone to to be our voice if we were being taken away to be murdered.  We must work to establish equal protection for our preborn neighbor, who, just like us, are made in the image of God!  We must do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.  We must work for the abolition of abortion

Please look at the links below to educate yourself about abolition and how to rightly rescue those who are being killed.

www.theliberator.news
www.abolishhumanabortion.com
www.timetowinabattle.blogspot.com

DO NOT BE A HUMAN RIGHTS HYPOCRITE.

SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.  Proverbs 31:8-9

Bring the Gospel into Conflict with the Culture that Murders its Children.

THE GOSPEL EXPLAINED

The living and true God of the Bible created all things, and made mankind in His image. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, from the moment of conception (Genesis 1:1,27; Psalm 139).

We are, each of us, fallen in sin and in rebellion against our Creator.  We have broken His Law, and the wages of sin is death and Hell.  We deserve it.  That is the bad news (Isaiah 53:6; I John 3:4; Romans 3:23; 6:23; Hebrews 9:27).

God is just and must punish sin.  He is also the ONLY ONE Who could make a way for us to be saved.  God so loved the world, that He sent His Son to pay the price for sin (Isaiah 13:11; 45:21;John 3:16; I John 4:9-10,14; II Corinthians 5:19-21).

Jesus Christ, the eternal God the Son, entered the womb to redeem the world (I Timothy 1:15).  Christ died for our sins, the Just for the unjust.  He gave His precious blood, was buried, rose again, and reigns today.  This is called the Gospel, meaning "Good News" (I Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 5:8;Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 2:8-11).

Jesus Christ is the only Savior from sin.  To be saved you must repent and believe the Gospel.  Turn and trust in Jesus from to be saved from your sin.  It is by grace through faith alone (II Timothy 2:5-6; Acts 4:12; Acts 4:12, Mark 1:15; Ephesians 2:89).

Then grow in Christ--read and follow the Bible, which His word.  Live for for the Lord as His ambassador, being zealous for the truth (II Peter 3:18; Colossians 2:6-7; James 1:22; II Corinthians 5:15,17-20; Titus 2:11-14).

"LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, SOUL, MIND, AND STRENGTH.
LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF (from Luke 10:27)".

"PURE RELIGION AND UNDEFILED BEFORE GOD AND THE FATHER IS THIS, TO VISIT THE FATHERLESS AND WIDOWS IN THEIR AFFLICTION... (from James 1:27)".

ABORTION MUST BE ABOLISHED.

Frederick Douglass, Abolitionist

Today marks two hundred and one years since the birth of Frederick Douglass, a runaway slave, who became an abolitionist, orator, author, editor, statesman, and preacher of the Gospel (as well as becoming the most photographed American of the 19th century).  This bold Christian man became renowned as the "Lion of Abolition."

The following are some quotes of his, which I believe may be beneficial to those seeking to abolish the evil of child sacrifice in our day.  Every age has its evils.  Every age has its abolitionists.  Let us reflect on his words.  

On Prayer & Action - “I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs.”

On the REAL Problem, or Question - “There is no negro problem.  The problem is whether the American people have loyalty enough, honor enough, patriotism enough to live up to their own Constitution.”

On Free Speech  - “To suppress free speech is a double wrong.  It violates the rights of the hearer as well as those of the speaker.”

On the effect upon his life after his Salvation - “I loved all mankind, slaveholders included, though I hated slavery more than ever.”

On true Christianity - “I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ; I therefore hate the corrupt, slave-holding, women whipping, cradle plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land.”

On Being a Nation's True Friend - “I am one of those who think the best friend of a nation is he who most faithfully rebukes her for her sins – and he, her worst enemy, who, under the specious and popular garb of patriotism seeks to excuse, palliate, and defend them.” April 15, 1846

On Reactions to Shining Light on Wrong  - “Men do not love those who remind them of their sins.”

On National Security - “The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous.”

On Justice and Peace in Society - "Where there is no justice, there is no peace."

On Demanding Justice - “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.  Power concedes nothing without a demand.  It never did and it never will.  Without a struggle, there can be no progress.  It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder.  We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.”

On Agitation - “Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground.”

On the Fear of Man - “I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.”

On Tolerance and Tyranny - “Find out what any people will quietly submit to and you have the exact measure of the injustice and wrong which will be imposed on them.”

On Standing Alone - “One and God make a majority.”

On his One Political Idea - "I have one great political idea...That idea is an old one.  It is widely and generally assented to; nevertheless, it is very generally trampled upon and disregarded.  The best expression of it, I have found in the Bible.  It is in substance, 'Righteousness exalteth a nation; sin is a reproach to any people' [Proverbs 14:34]...This constitutes my politics -- the negative and positive of my politics, and the whole of my politics...I feel it my duty to do all in my power to infuse this idea into the public mind, that it may speedily be recognized and practiced upon by our people."

O, FOR CHRISTIANS TO AWAKEN TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, FIRED WITH ZEAL FROM FAITH IN THE SCRIPTURES, AND CONSTRAINED BY THE LOVE OF CHRIST!

O, FOR HEROES TO RISE TODAY, AND SPEAK WITH THE FACES OF LIONS!

Abortion must be abolished.

Using Images of Abortion Victims - Why? Three Basic Reasons

Some have asked about the use of graphic signs (more properly termed victim images) which are used by many abolitionists, and other Christians, who oppose preborn murder (abortion).

I would like to devote this post to explaining why I choose to use victim images?

There are at least three basic reasons why.

1. It follows God's pattern.  We find in Scripture that when God sent His prophets with a message to preach to the people, He did so with an object or an illustration in order to grab attention--Nathan, Jeremiah, Jesus, Paul, and many others utilized this method.  

The one who may have used the "object lesson" type of teaching most was Ezekiel.  God asked Ezekiel to do some crazy things to pound His message home:

-shave both head and beard,

-cook his food with manure,

-shake and quake while he ate,

-break in and loot his own house,

-NOT mourn when his beloved wife died

...get the picture?

In one specific place, God told Ezekiel to SHOW the city their bloody abomination within the gates.

"...wilt thou judge the bloody city? yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations" (Ezekiel 22:2).

When I hold up a picture of a preborn baby that has been brutally murdered, I am simply following God's specific instruction to Ezekiel.  Many cities in our Nation have baby butcher shops.  Within these United States, we have slaughtered over 60 million preborn children.  We have filled the land from one end to another with innocent blood.  And God says that the "hands that shed innocent blood" are ABOMINATION to God (Proverbs 6:16-17).  I will continue show these pictures so that I might soberly show the city "her abominations" and that I might bring light to the dark deeds which the world wants to keep hidden.

"Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins" (Isaiah 58:1).

2. It is effectual.  The impact of such an image is powerful.  Notice that I did not say it is necessarily pragmatic--but it is powerful.  

A. It CHALLENGES people to face the facts.  This was a baby, not a blob of tissue and  this precious little one had ears, a nose, cute little fingers, toes, and eyelashes.

The humanity that these images reveal is why the pro-choice crowd fight against allowing these pictures to enter the debate.  It is the exact same reasoning that Holocaust deniers use. The picture proves them wrong.

B. It CHANNELS the message quickly.  People driving by may not be able to read all the words of some signs, but one look at the picture of an aborted baby WILL get the message across immediately.  They know what we're talking about.  A picture is worth a thousand words.

It puts me in mind of a time I was recently standing at an intersection in Wichita.  A woman passenger in a car driving by looked out of her closed window, and mouthed the words, "What is that?!" and then as her eyes widened with horror, she mouthed the words, "IT'S a BABY!"

C. It can be used to CHANGE hearts.  

I have seen a father look at the posters and go back into the mill in order to rescue the mother and baby. 

I have seen mothers turn away from having an abortion. They tell me that it was the picture of the aborted baby that made them stop for they were confronted that "the thing inside my womb is a real child."  

I saw a woman who drove by the victim images pull over to sit and weep uncontrollably for the children.

I met a medical doctor who once openly supported the abortion cause.  His own wife had had an abortion.  They believed the lies of the "establishment".  But when he saw the pictures of babies that had been aborted, it transformed his thinking. In fact, when I met him, he was lifting up a sign of an aborted baby above his head while calling to women going inside of an abortion mill.  

People often drive by with looks of disgust and I say, "Does this picture not horrify you?  Are you not grieved?  Let us be stirred to stop any more babies from having to suffer this child's fate.  'Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?"  Babies are being butchered for a price--what will you do to stop this abuse?  Remember this picture when you are drinking your coffee! When you are talking with your friends! When you are standing in the voting booth!  And remember that these precious babies are being destroyed on your watch!  If we do nothing to protect them, their blood is on our hands!"

3. It is Just.  Those aborted humans have the right to face their accusers.  In our nation, it is recognized that no one is to be deprived of life, liberty, or property without "due process of law."  It must be proven that they are guilty of a crime worthy of capitol punishment.  

The Bill of Rights justly guarantees Americans a broad range of rights.  This includes the right to face one's accusers--as the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states, 

"In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall the enjoy the right...to be confronted with the witness against him."  

Yet these preborn infants are denied that right.  The right to a trial by jury!

The right to be assumed innocent until proven guilt!  

The right to face their accusers!

They are guilty of no crime, yet they are executed in ways that we don't even execute serial killers and mass rapists in those ways!  "These things ought not so to be" (James 3:10).  God provided cities of refuge for manslayers to flee into until they could get a righteous trial (Joshua 20:9).  

Even the Roman empire had this practice:  Acts 25:16 "To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have license to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him."

If manslayers are to be protected in this manner, shouldn't innocent children more?

Therefore, I show these pictures, that these babies may testify in the only way they can now!

That they are babies.  

That they were murdered.  

That thousands of others like them are being slain EVERY DAY!

That this killing must end.

Abortion Must Be Abolished!

What Comes to Mind When the Titanic is Mentioned?

Yesterday 105 years ago, the Titanic struck an iceberg.

Early this morning, 105 years ago, that great ship sank beneath the dark frigid waters.
What comes to mind at the words "the Titanic"?

I believe that many people think of the ship that sank on April 15th, 1912, the tragedy that shocked the world, and perhaps they think of certain elements of the account, such as

The luxury of the ocean liner on her ill-fated maiden voyage.

The lack of sufficient lifeboats, and the lives of some 1,500 people lost because of it.

Notable people on board who made it, or didn't, such as Molly Brown and John Astor.

The honorable men, some very wealthy, who gave up their seats so that women and children could be rescued.

The ship's young cabin boys, who also yielded their seat in the lifeboats.

The story of the cowardly scoundrel, who tried to dress like a woman in order to gain a place.

Phrases that come to mind, like "Not even God could sink this ship", and "Women and children first!"

I believe also that many people think of a movie released in 1997, by the name Titanic, which is called one of the most romantic films of all time.  It was the first movie to gross over a billion.    In the United States, an estimated 128 million tickets were sold in the initial theatrical run. That is a good portion of the national population of 272.6 million at the time.  For the 100 year anniversary, they made a 3D version of it, and the gross profit swelled to over 2 billion total.

I am sure that many thousands, perhaps millions more, have seen it since then, in theatres and in their homes (I cannot include myself in that number).  It had incredible effects, an outstanding musical score, and an emotionally tugging story line.  Tragically, it featured lust and fornication in the lives of the two main characters, highlighting it as a grand and beautiful thing.  In that way, Titanic sinks in depravity, even as the Titanic sank into the depths.

So what do I think of when I hear the word Titanic? 

I think of John Harper, God's man on board that ocean liner, who went out of this world blazing forth the truth of the Gospel in that dark night, 

-who called out, "Women, children, and the unsaved into the lifeboats first!"

-who loving set his 6 year old daughter Nana in a lifeboat to ensure her protection, and 

stayed on board to preach and die.

-who declared the Gospel to the over 1,000 passengers remaining in the face of grim death.

-who in the waters, surrounded by people drowning, was heard shouting, "Believe on the 

Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!", leading them to faith in Christ, even as they died.

-who took off his own life preserver in the waves and gave it to an unrepentant sinner, saying, "You need this more than I do."  Who later led that man to the Lord.

-whose last words were "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."

-who is called the Last Hero of the Titanic.  (You can read more about John Harper, by going to the labels of my blog and clicking Ships, then reading the post "Of Ships and Souls".)

How does the sinking of the Titanic strike me? 

Three things come to mind, three things that I can do about it.

1. It challenges me to be a man of honor, willing, and even seeking for chances to yield my own rights and comfort for the good of others.

2. It affords a great opportunity to preach the Gospel, and to encourage fellow Christians to do the same.  Such a springboard to go from an event that everyone has heard of, and then bring out parallels to the need for and way of salvation!  It can be done in print and in person.  I have used it while standing on the deck of a cruise ship, standing on a street corner, in front of an abortion mill, in a homeless mission chapel, elementary and high school chapel services, churches, and in one-on-one conversations many times.  It is so simple and powerful.  

3. It also affords a platform to exhort for the abolition of abortion!  Just bringing out the concept of giving place to protect those more vulnerable than myself, and then challenging the hearer to do that for the 3,000+ that will be murdered TODAY.  That is hundreds more than were on the Titanic when it struck the ice.  We are to actively seek justice and equity for the weak and defenseless, not just be against their murder in our opinions.  

Abortion must be abolished. 

CATO, the Incorrigible

I have an affinity for powerful quotes.

Place: Roman Republic

Time: 2nd Century B.C. (During the latter years of the Punic Wars against Carthage)

Quote: "CENTERUM AUTEM CARTHAGINEM ESSE DELENDAM"

English: "Furthermore, I consider that Carthage must be destroyed."

This is a oratorical phrase in popular use in the Roman Republic, most famously uttered by the Roman senator, Cato the Elder (234-149 BC), in his speeches.

Cato was a man who believed that Carthage, the foremost enemy of Rome in that day, must be destroyed.  And so he said so.  All the time.

Cato used these words frequently and persistently, no matter the subject of his discourse.

Cato used it emphatically and zealously.

Cato used it with determination, unswayed by pressure to cease or tone it down.

Cato used it almost to the point of absurdity.

Cato was incorrigible.  

Incorrigible means "that which cannot be corrected or amended".  This is usually used in a negative sense, but I want to show the positive sense of the word.  

Consider the following aspects of being incorrigible:
1. Impossible to alter from its course or set onto a different path.
David Livingstone was incorrigible.  He said that he would not "swerve one hairbreadth" from what God called him to do.
2. Impervious to correction, taunts, pressure, intimidation, punishment, or pain.
Richard Wurmbrand was incorrigible. During his ten years being tortured in a Communist prison for not bending the Truth of Scripture, he made one deal with his tormentors: "You beat me.  I'll preach to you.  Then we will BOTH be happy." 
3. Invariable, unalterable, immutable, hence, impossible to improve upon. 
The laws of nature and mathematics are incorrigible.

Impossible to alter...Impervious to pressure...Invariably set...Incorrigible.

That was Cato.  

"Carthage must be destroyed."

He never let the issue go to the back burner in the thoughts of his peers, his audience, his acquaintances.  He was avoided, laughed at, even despised for this continual declaration. But finally, Carthage was indeed destroyed.

Now I cannot truly speak to the virtue of said destruction.  But I DO say we need a Cato in our day.  A Cato for the abolition of human abortion.

Consider:
1. The Holocaust that has murdered over 60,000,000 of our neighbors here in the U.S.A.,
2. The continued slaughter of 3,000+ more children EVERY DAY, 
3. The judgment of the true God that we justly deserve for our national blood guilt,
4. The apathy of the culture, even of those who say they are against the violence, 
5. The constant distractions of entertainment, media, society, and our own selfish pursuits and desires that crowd out thought of the plight of our preborn neighbors and our duty toward them before God.

Taking all these into account,
I am constrained to proclaim that we need such a person as Cato today. 

Someone to tirelessly expose the sin of child sacrifice before the eyes of a pathetic public!
Someone to keep the need for justice, mercy, and equity toward the least of these ringing in our ears!
Someone to call for/put forth bills for the total and immediate abolition of abortion!
Someone who REFUSES to live at peace with child sacrifice!
Someone who will agitate the culture toward repentance and righteous action!
Someone to keep the demand constant!  To make the clarion call for abolition perpetual!

Until human abortion is ABOLISHED. 

A Cato in the United States Legislature.  
A Cato in every State Senate and House of Representatives.  
A Cato in every city council. 
A Cato on every street corner. 
A Cato in every church body.  
A Cato in every family.  

Why settle for one Cato in each sphere?  All Christians should be like Cato in this wise.  Catos all over!  Calling out the declaration to "Cease to do evil!  Learn to do well!"  "Abortion is evil and it must be abolished."  "LET US REPENT!"

Abortion must be abolished.  And it will be abolished when WE cease to tolerate it. 

Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh" (Matthew 12:34).  Oh, that our hearts would be so filled with the love of God and our neighbors that people would find abolition in every conversation, on every social media post, on our lips, and in our lives!   

This fills my mind, and thus I am compelled to say,

"Furthermore, I consider that ABORTION MUST BE ABOLISHED."

The Day of Infamy

On December 7, 1941, an attack was made upon the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor by Japanese bombers.  The onslaught was swift and vicious.  360 warplanes from Imperial Japan destroyed, sank, or severely damaged battleships, other vessels, and aircraft.  2,403 Americans were slain and 1,178 were wounded, many while valiantly trying to repulse the violent enemy.  It was a critical, surprising blow upon a nation that had not been fighting yet in WWII.

What was the response?  National mourning and outcry.  Weeping in homes, schools, and churches. Individuals, families, communities, and the country as a whole were filled with horror and indignation at the deed that slew so many.  The president called December 7th, "a day that shall live forever in infamy." 

What was the response?  The United States reeled in shock and wheeled into action.  It was that act and the call for justice and vindication that drew the U.S. into the Second World War.  In about four years, the war was over, the Allies victorious.

The motto of WWII was "Remember Pearl Harbor".

It is appropriate to remember such a day as December 7th, 1941, a day of infamy.

BUT what about December 7th, 2016?  Well over 3,000 Americans were murdered on our own shores.  They had no warning, no way to escape, and no way to fight back.  

They were beheaded, dismembered, burned, and poisoned to death.  Murdered with forceps, needles, vacuums, and pills.

The violence done against them was sought for by those who should have been their most ardent protectors - their own parents.  And it was all done under "color of law", protected by the U.S. National and State governments.

Think of it.  EVERY DAY in America since 1973, we have murdered more Americans than the Japanese killed at Pearl Harbor.

In WWII, an estimated 418,500 Americans were killed.  That is less than half the amount of Americans WE murder each and every year.

Remember the weeping and outcry after Pearl Harbor?  

What has been the response to the war on Womb Harbor?  Over 60 million American girls and boys have been destroyed, and the nation is unmoved.  Each day is treated as a "ho-hum" day of homicide.  Our entire culture has become guilty in some manner, whether by Complicity, Collaboration, or Callousness. 

In the Prolife movement, and in the churches of Jesus Christ, the two places where opposition should be most expected, we find Complacency, Cowardice, and Confusion.  We have bought into the lie of Compromise.  We are living at peace with child sacrifice.  

We make "prolife legislation" to regulate the murder rather than end it.  We make unrighteous and iniquitous decrees, telling who can kill babies, when, where, how, and in what cases they can be murdered.  Woe unto us (Isaiah 10:1).  We are crying "Peace, peace, when there is no peace" (Jeremiah 6:14).  We have followed the crowd to do evil and wrest the judgment of the most vulnerable in our culture (Exodus 23:2).   

What must our response be?  Isaiah 1:16-18 is a good start. 

We need to repent.  
We need to humble ourselves and confess the sin of silence, absence, and unjust action in the face of this attack upon our neighbors (Luke 10:27).  
We need to sigh and cry over this violent abomination we have allowed (Ezekiel 9:4).  
We need to cry mightily to the God of Heaven as Nineveh did, that He might show mercy, though we well deserve judgment for our personal and national sin (Jonah 3:8-9).  
We need to arise and demand justice and equity for the least of these (Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:3; Matthew 25:40)!  
We need to valiantly engage this dark and decaying culture with the light and salt of the Gospel (Matthew 5:13-16)!  
We need to open our mouths for those who have no voice and are being carried to be slain (Proverbs 24:11-12; 31:8-9).
We need to be of good courage and behave ourselves valiantly for our people and for the kingdom of God, and trust the results to the LORD (I Chronicles 19:13).

Let us recognize the great infamy of which we are guilty.

[Infamy: 1 the state of being well known for some bad quality or deed.  2 an evil or wicked act.]

EVERY DAY is "a Day of Infamy" for America.  Never forget that.

Remember Pearl Harbor and Abolish Human Abortion.

Abortion must be abolished.