Freedom of Choice Act
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Freedom of Choice Act (H.R. 1964/S. 1173) is a bill in the United States Congress which, if enacted, would abolish all restrictions and limitations on women in the United States to have an abortion prior to fetal viability, whether at the State or Federal level, or after the point of viability when the life of the mother is endangered.
Findings
The bill states in its findings section that Congress has the affirmative power to legislate abortion based, in part, on the crossing of state lines by abortion providers, women seeking abortions, and medical supplies used in abortions.
Sponsorship
The Freedom of Choice Act was sponsored in the House of Representatives by Congressman Jerrold Nadler, and originally co-sponsored by Congressman James Greenwood, Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, and Congresswoman Diana Degette. In the Senate, it was sponsored by Senator Barbara Boxer, and originally co-sponsored by Senators Jon Corzine, Patty Murray, Frank Lautenberg, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Maria Cantwell, Jim Jeffords, Joseph Lieberman, Diane Feinstein, Paul Sarbanes, and Barbara Mikulski. The bill was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on January 21, 2004, and in the United States Senate on January 22, 2004. Barack Obama promises to sign it if it is passed by Congress.
Status
The bills were referred to the Judiciary Committees of their respective Houses. Neither bill received further action in the 108th Congress. The bills were reintroduced in the 110th Congress, but like their predecessors, have been referred to committee without further action.
Description
The bill is described by NARAL Pro-Choice America president Nancy Keenan as a bill to "codify Roe v. Wade" which would "repeal the Bush-backed Federal Abortion Ban," referring to the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, "and other federal restrictions," [1]. Similarly, opponents of the bill assert that[2] it would, if passed, invalidate every restriction on an abortion before the stage of viability, in every state, even those previously found consistent with Roe v. Wade by the United States Supreme Court, such as parental notification laws, waiting periods, requirements of full disclosure of the physical and emotional risks inherent in abortion, and the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. Opponents further assert that it would challenge the right of religiously-based hospitals or clinics to refuse to perform abortions, and that it would force the repeal of the Hyde Amendment, which restricts the use of Federal funding for abortions. Conservative legal scholar Douglas Kmiec disagrees with the latter assertion, noting that the Hyde Amendment is renewed annually by Congress and argues that this legislation would not supersede it [3].
Debate
President-elect Barack Obama became a co-sponsor of the 2007 Senate version of the bill (S. 1173). Responding to a question regarding how he would preserve reproductive rights in a speech given to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund on July 17, 2007, he declared "The first thing I'd do, as president, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That's the first thing that I'd do."[4] Although those who oppose the Act have interpreted it as an attempt to obligate religious hospitals to either "do abortions or close"[5], supporters point to conscience clause laws[6] that would protect religious hospitals.[7] Opponents counter that such conscience clauses are weak and easily reinterpreted, and do not explicitly allow religious hospitals to ban the abortion procedure within the hospital.[8]
Some opponents point out that the rationale for legislating abortion on a federal level could logically be extended to every act of commerce that may occur across state lines, and say that such a rationale is likely to be deemed unconstitutional.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has been vehemently opposed to the Freedom of Choice Act. According to the USCCB's Secretariat for Pro-Life Activites, FOCA would not only "codify the Supreme Court's 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade" but "in allowing and promoting abortion, FOCA goes far beyond even Roe."[9] On November 12, 2008, Francis Cardinal George, president of the USCCB, warned that FOCA would limit the right of Catholic hospitals and doctors to not offer abortions adding that, "those who support FOCA must realize that if Catholic hospitals are ever required to perform abortions, the bishops will close every one of them; no one would be hurt more than the poor."[10] Drawing on Pope Paul VI's encyclical Humanae Vitae, the Catholic apologist Frank M. Rega, S.F.O., writes[11]:
The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) is legislation co-sponsored by Barack Obama which would nullify all state laws that in any way attempt to limit or regulate abortion, including partial-birth abortion. Ironically, it specifies that government will not interfere with a woman’s choice to keep or to kill her unborn child. Nevertheless, FOCA would be a major move towards the dangerous precipice of government-mandated abortion, since it would consolidate all power over birth control into the hands of federal law and authorities. From there it would only be a small step to amend it in the light of overriding national health interests, environmental or population concerns, or any other reason deemed appropriate. Thus the FOCA clause in section 4.b.1.a, stating that a woman has the “right to choose to bear a child” could conveniently and easily be changed to, for example, that a woman has the right to choose to bear up to two children. More ominously, it could be amended to state that a woman has the right to bear a child, except in cases of rape, incest, Down syndrome, etc.
The pro-life organization Americans United for Life (AUL) began a petition called Fight FOCA to collect signatures to oppose FOCA. AUL also wrote an open letter to Senator Barack Obama on FOCA.[12] As of Friday, December 5, 2008, at 22:39:00 UT, the Fight FOCA petition has 311,013 signatures.
C.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Not As Graphic..Abortion Part 2
Psalm 139; 13,14 "For you formed my inward parts you covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows very well."
In this psalm, David affirms that the work of God in his life extended back to his development in his mother's womb. Who was in the womb? David was. The Bible NEVER uses anything less than human terms to describe the unborn. Science teaches us that an unborn child is just as much an independent human being as you are. The original human cell consists of 46 chromosomes, 23 from each parent. At no point during pregnancy does the mother contribute any new cells to the child. The original cell divides itself and multiplies to provide development and growth for the child. Scientifically speaking, the child is just as independent at six months before birth as they are six months after birth. That means the baby is unique, having half mom and half dad in them at conception. Yes the mother does provide nourishment to the unborn child, but she also provides nourishment with breast milk to a newborn child.
Matthew 7:12 "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the law of the prophets."
Would you care to be pickled to death with an injection? Or have your life scraped away with a tool that looks like a spoon? Or maybe you desire to have your brain removed? Abortion goes against this golden rule passage that Jesus personally delivered to us. No one desires these things.
Psalm 51:3 "For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me."
David confessed this to God after his sin with Bathsheba. David had a constant conviction and regret for what he did. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband murdered on the battlefield. And he regretted this deeply. Most women who have abortions, spend the rest of their lives regretting it. I ask that you visit with some woman who has had an abortion. Ask her if she would do it again, ask her if she has any regrets. Abortion brings shame, heartache and deep deep regret. Why would this be if it wasn't wrong?
Psalm 127:3 "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward."
Many translations as this translation refers to say children are a gift from God. The fact that one becomes pregnant is a reward from God. Why would you want to terminate that?
2 Kings 8:12 "And Hazael said, “Why is my lord weeping?”
He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: Their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword; and you will dash their children, and rip open their women with child.”
This is a prophecy of the bad things Hazael would bring upon Israel. These are not good things, young men being killed by the sword, children being killed and pregnant women being ripped open. These are bad things according to this passage as they should be.
Matthew 2:16 "Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men."
Luke 2:12 "And this will be the sign to you; you will find a babe in swaddling clothes lying in a manger."
This verse calls newborn children babes. And this is referring to the baby Jesus. But Luke 1:41 uses the same word babes to describe unborn children in the womb. There is no distinction between whether they're born or in the womb, they're both described as human life, as children. In the book of Daniel, Daniel, Meshach ,Abed-nego and Shadrach would not defile themselves with a portion of the king's food nor with the king's wine. They also would not bow down and worship the king. That ended up getting the three in a fiery furnace and landed Daniel in a den of lions. I'm sure many of us know these stories, but I would like to just point out that the Bible calls out many times not to live a compromising life. We are not to compromise our views and our convictions from the Lord and His word. If broken, Keep the faith. If in financial ruins, keep the faith. If in a blazing furnace, KEEP THE FAITH!
Again I will end like my last post. Let us see from God's word that abortion is wrong in many many ways. Let us make it and see it as the big issue that it is. My prayer is that God shows mercy on us, a nation that claims to be founded on Christian beliefs, yet so often overlooks God and His will and ways for "rights", or economy, or just plain greed. Let us wake up and lean on Him, it saved Daniel and his companions, and it can save us too.
With love,
C.
In this psalm, David affirms that the work of God in his life extended back to his development in his mother's womb. Who was in the womb? David was. The Bible NEVER uses anything less than human terms to describe the unborn. Science teaches us that an unborn child is just as much an independent human being as you are. The original human cell consists of 46 chromosomes, 23 from each parent. At no point during pregnancy does the mother contribute any new cells to the child. The original cell divides itself and multiplies to provide development and growth for the child. Scientifically speaking, the child is just as independent at six months before birth as they are six months after birth. That means the baby is unique, having half mom and half dad in them at conception. Yes the mother does provide nourishment to the unborn child, but she also provides nourishment with breast milk to a newborn child.
Matthew 7:12 "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the law of the prophets."
Would you care to be pickled to death with an injection? Or have your life scraped away with a tool that looks like a spoon? Or maybe you desire to have your brain removed? Abortion goes against this golden rule passage that Jesus personally delivered to us. No one desires these things.
Psalm 51:3 "For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me."
David confessed this to God after his sin with Bathsheba. David had a constant conviction and regret for what he did. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband murdered on the battlefield. And he regretted this deeply. Most women who have abortions, spend the rest of their lives regretting it. I ask that you visit with some woman who has had an abortion. Ask her if she would do it again, ask her if she has any regrets. Abortion brings shame, heartache and deep deep regret. Why would this be if it wasn't wrong?
Psalm 127:3 "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward."
Many translations as this translation refers to say children are a gift from God. The fact that one becomes pregnant is a reward from God. Why would you want to terminate that?
2 Kings 8:12 "And Hazael said, “Why is my lord weeping?”
He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel: Their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword; and you will dash their children, and rip open their women with child.”
This is a prophecy of the bad things Hazael would bring upon Israel. These are not good things, young men being killed by the sword, children being killed and pregnant women being ripped open. These are bad things according to this passage as they should be.
Matthew 2:16 "Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men."
Luke 2:12 "And this will be the sign to you; you will find a babe in swaddling clothes lying in a manger."
This verse calls newborn children babes. And this is referring to the baby Jesus. But Luke 1:41 uses the same word babes to describe unborn children in the womb. There is no distinction between whether they're born or in the womb, they're both described as human life, as children. In the book of Daniel, Daniel, Meshach ,Abed-nego and Shadrach would not defile themselves with a portion of the king's food nor with the king's wine. They also would not bow down and worship the king. That ended up getting the three in a fiery furnace and landed Daniel in a den of lions. I'm sure many of us know these stories, but I would like to just point out that the Bible calls out many times not to live a compromising life. We are not to compromise our views and our convictions from the Lord and His word. If broken, Keep the faith. If in financial ruins, keep the faith. If in a blazing furnace, KEEP THE FAITH!
Again I will end like my last post. Let us see from God's word that abortion is wrong in many many ways. Let us make it and see it as the big issue that it is. My prayer is that God shows mercy on us, a nation that claims to be founded on Christian beliefs, yet so often overlooks God and His will and ways for "rights", or economy, or just plain greed. Let us wake up and lean on Him, it saved Daniel and his companions, and it can save us too.
With love,
C.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Warning:Graphic Abortion Part 1
The Bible is quiet about abortions. No where does it say, thou shall not have an abortion. However, the Bible does mention loud and clear respect and love for life and prohibits murder...what I feel abortion is. I know this is a touchy subject for some and I won't deny that I'm probably going to offend some. First we'll start with some general info.
There are five basic types of abortion being performed in America today, while one may be added in the near future due to the election results.
1.) Suction type abortion this is where the unborn child is literally vacuumed from the womb during the early stages of pregnancy.
2.) The currette abortion.....this is where the child is cut from the mother's womb with a spoon like object.
3.) Cesarean operation.......this is where the baby is surgically removed from the mother and allowed to suffocate because the child's lungs are not developed.
4.) The salt brine technique...this is the method where the child is literally "pickled" to death by the injection of a strong salt solution. A few days after the injection, the baby is stillborn.
5.) The RU-486 Abortion pill..This pill works by inhibiting pregnancy hormones and is normally used within 7 weeks from conception. However it sometimes fails and if so, you would need to undergo a surgical abortion.
There is currently much debate over the practice of partial birth abortions which as of now is illegal. This practice will be allowed if the president elect follows through with the "freedom of choice act" as he said he would. Partial birth abortion is where a child is partially delivered (everything but the baby's head) then stabbed in the skull and has his/her brain removed. This technique can be done up to nine months.
I understand a lot of people view abortion as wrong unless it puts the mother or child in grave danger or is a result of incest or rape. Well the facts show that 3% of abortions are done because of the mother's health. Another 3% are because of the baby's health. While 1%, that's right only 1% abortions are done because of rape or incest. That leaves a staggering 93% of abortions done simply because the babies are unwanted. An average of 1,500,000 abortions are done per year. That amounts to 4,000 abortions per day, which comes out to nearly 3 per minute. How many unborn children will die while you read this blog?
Prior to the Roe V Wade decision of 1973 an estimated 500,000 illegal abortions were occurring each year. By 1975, 2 years after abortions became legal, that number doubled to 1 million per year.
I had a fellow from work tell me that back in the 70s, Larry Flint of Hustler magazine did an issue which showed a bunch of women who "bled out" and died while having an illegal "back alley abortion". He said that's why he feels it should be legal, since women will do it anyway and might as well have a safe environment to do it in. I must admit that's a good argument, but if that's the case, should we then legalize heroine since people get AIDs from the needles or get bad drugs and die? Under this way of thinking, we can even have the abusers have doctors in their offices shoot them up. What do you think?
Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
Jeremiah was keenly aware that the call of God in his life had been determined by God before his conception. In reference to pregnant women in the Bible, the term "with child" occurs 26 times. The term "with fetus" is nowhere in the Bible. God does not see unborn children as fetuses or merely tissues, but a person, a human life. If God allows a child to be conceived, then he may have plans for that child. Mary's parents didn't know she would give birth to the Savior of the world. On the last post I did, I used Luke 1 to show that John the Baptist, being in the womb, leaped for joy. That's what got me thinking about this abortion issue. And also, K was telling me that last night on the news, it showed people can buy a gift card from Planned Parenthood that can be used for abortions. Tell me how that really sounds? You can buy a gift card for someone to go have an abortion! Does that sound right? I take this issue extremely serious because I believe 100% it is the act of killing innocent life. I found out years ago my mom had an abortion appointment while pregnant with me and my dad turning off the highway is the only reason I'm here. I have not changed the world, but I'm glad I'm here and my kids are here.
Abortion lowers the moral fabric this country is barely hanging onto as is. Many of you will call me extreme, but honestly, if we let doctors in the name of science and rights kill unborn children then what's next? Should we be allowed to kill our grandparents or parents if they end up suffering from senility? Or maybe we should have the right to kill mentally retarded or seriously sick people? Should we maybe kill people like me, who in the name of Christ refused be conformed to this world and its views of right and wrong? This is all a reality that could happen and it starts by giving sin an inch. Sin will end up growing and taking a mile, and much much more. That's it for tonight. I will post part 2 with much more scripture demonstrating the act is wrong. Feel free to leave your opinions and feedback....either way.
I pray we make this issue the size it deserves. These abortions would be healthy human lives made in the image of our Heavenly Father.
With love,
C.
There are five basic types of abortion being performed in America today, while one may be added in the near future due to the election results.
1.) Suction type abortion this is where the unborn child is literally vacuumed from the womb during the early stages of pregnancy.
2.) The currette abortion.....this is where the child is cut from the mother's womb with a spoon like object.
3.) Cesarean operation.......this is where the baby is surgically removed from the mother and allowed to suffocate because the child's lungs are not developed.
4.) The salt brine technique...this is the method where the child is literally "pickled" to death by the injection of a strong salt solution. A few days after the injection, the baby is stillborn.
5.) The RU-486 Abortion pill..This pill works by inhibiting pregnancy hormones and is normally used within 7 weeks from conception. However it sometimes fails and if so, you would need to undergo a surgical abortion.
There is currently much debate over the practice of partial birth abortions which as of now is illegal. This practice will be allowed if the president elect follows through with the "freedom of choice act" as he said he would. Partial birth abortion is where a child is partially delivered (everything but the baby's head) then stabbed in the skull and has his/her brain removed. This technique can be done up to nine months.
I understand a lot of people view abortion as wrong unless it puts the mother or child in grave danger or is a result of incest or rape. Well the facts show that 3% of abortions are done because of the mother's health. Another 3% are because of the baby's health. While 1%, that's right only 1% abortions are done because of rape or incest. That leaves a staggering 93% of abortions done simply because the babies are unwanted. An average of 1,500,000 abortions are done per year. That amounts to 4,000 abortions per day, which comes out to nearly 3 per minute. How many unborn children will die while you read this blog?
Prior to the Roe V Wade decision of 1973 an estimated 500,000 illegal abortions were occurring each year. By 1975, 2 years after abortions became legal, that number doubled to 1 million per year.
I had a fellow from work tell me that back in the 70s, Larry Flint of Hustler magazine did an issue which showed a bunch of women who "bled out" and died while having an illegal "back alley abortion". He said that's why he feels it should be legal, since women will do it anyway and might as well have a safe environment to do it in. I must admit that's a good argument, but if that's the case, should we then legalize heroine since people get AIDs from the needles or get bad drugs and die? Under this way of thinking, we can even have the abusers have doctors in their offices shoot them up. What do you think?
Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
Jeremiah was keenly aware that the call of God in his life had been determined by God before his conception. In reference to pregnant women in the Bible, the term "with child" occurs 26 times. The term "with fetus" is nowhere in the Bible. God does not see unborn children as fetuses or merely tissues, but a person, a human life. If God allows a child to be conceived, then he may have plans for that child. Mary's parents didn't know she would give birth to the Savior of the world. On the last post I did, I used Luke 1 to show that John the Baptist, being in the womb, leaped for joy. That's what got me thinking about this abortion issue. And also, K was telling me that last night on the news, it showed people can buy a gift card from Planned Parenthood that can be used for abortions. Tell me how that really sounds? You can buy a gift card for someone to go have an abortion! Does that sound right? I take this issue extremely serious because I believe 100% it is the act of killing innocent life. I found out years ago my mom had an abortion appointment while pregnant with me and my dad turning off the highway is the only reason I'm here. I have not changed the world, but I'm glad I'm here and my kids are here.
Abortion lowers the moral fabric this country is barely hanging onto as is. Many of you will call me extreme, but honestly, if we let doctors in the name of science and rights kill unborn children then what's next? Should we be allowed to kill our grandparents or parents if they end up suffering from senility? Or maybe we should have the right to kill mentally retarded or seriously sick people? Should we maybe kill people like me, who in the name of Christ refused be conformed to this world and its views of right and wrong? This is all a reality that could happen and it starts by giving sin an inch. Sin will end up growing and taking a mile, and much much more. That's it for tonight. I will post part 2 with much more scripture demonstrating the act is wrong. Feel free to leave your opinions and feedback....either way.
I pray we make this issue the size it deserves. These abortions would be healthy human lives made in the image of our Heavenly Father.
With love,
C.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Advent
Advent time is here again. This is a time that we observe and contemplate the birth of Christ. It is also a time to remind us (which we should keep ready at all times) that as our Lord came once, he is coming again.
We should take this time to reflect on what really happened that first Christmas. The harsh realities of the dark stank stable, the cold night, and the door to the inn closed. And most importantly we should reflect and rejoice that in that time, God came into our mist. This is something that's not only happened in the past, but is still happening in the lives of repentant believers still today through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Advent is not only a celebration of the anniversary of our Lord who came, but is an opportunity to consider the future, the second advent, the promised coming of God's kingdom on earth. (Revelation 22:20, 2Peter 3:13) We should never forget the grandness of what happened in the small town of Bethlehem. We are all familiar with the nativity scene, a small precious child laying in a manger, shepherds coming to see the king, wise men bringing gifts...this is all relevant and to be recognized. Yet the one thing we should always remember is that baby that laid in that manger is the same man who was crucified on the cross at the hill of Golgotha. The same man who promised to return in all His splendor and glory bringing His kingdom with Him.
They have wreaths, calendars, devotional books and on and on for the entire month of advent. I urge anyone to take part in such things and enjoy them. But I cannot stress enough, in this season, don't get wrapped up with the holiday rush around and all the consumerism that commercials and retailers are shoving on us. Remember the old saying, "Jesus IS the reason for the season. "
I ask that we all take some time this Christmas season and examine ourselves in the light of the gospel to see how far we are from Christ and what is our character of His faith and love. How many of us share the longing of the prophets for the Messiah to come. Mother Theresa once noted that the first person to welcome Christ was John the Baptist, who leaped for joy on recognizing him, though both of them were still in their mother's wombs. (Luke 1:39-45) Do you welcome Jesus into your lives like this? Do you recognize him for who he really was and not just some holiday we celebrate every year to give gifts?
I wanted to do this advent topic because most churches don't celebrate advent. Its lost in the consumerism and rush of the season. Most of my ideas and the Mother Theresa info came from the book, Watch For the Light, reading for advent and Christmas. A good read I recommend.
My prayer for all is that we forget the hustle and bustle of the season, that we forget how work is going, that we forget how the economy's doing, and that we concentrate on the one thing that really does matter, Jesus of Nazareth
With love,
C.
Luke 1:39-45
Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
We should take this time to reflect on what really happened that first Christmas. The harsh realities of the dark stank stable, the cold night, and the door to the inn closed. And most importantly we should reflect and rejoice that in that time, God came into our mist. This is something that's not only happened in the past, but is still happening in the lives of repentant believers still today through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Advent is not only a celebration of the anniversary of our Lord who came, but is an opportunity to consider the future, the second advent, the promised coming of God's kingdom on earth. (Revelation 22:20, 2Peter 3:13) We should never forget the grandness of what happened in the small town of Bethlehem. We are all familiar with the nativity scene, a small precious child laying in a manger, shepherds coming to see the king, wise men bringing gifts...this is all relevant and to be recognized. Yet the one thing we should always remember is that baby that laid in that manger is the same man who was crucified on the cross at the hill of Golgotha. The same man who promised to return in all His splendor and glory bringing His kingdom with Him.
They have wreaths, calendars, devotional books and on and on for the entire month of advent. I urge anyone to take part in such things and enjoy them. But I cannot stress enough, in this season, don't get wrapped up with the holiday rush around and all the consumerism that commercials and retailers are shoving on us. Remember the old saying, "Jesus IS the reason for the season. "
I ask that we all take some time this Christmas season and examine ourselves in the light of the gospel to see how far we are from Christ and what is our character of His faith and love. How many of us share the longing of the prophets for the Messiah to come. Mother Theresa once noted that the first person to welcome Christ was John the Baptist, who leaped for joy on recognizing him, though both of them were still in their mother's wombs. (Luke 1:39-45) Do you welcome Jesus into your lives like this? Do you recognize him for who he really was and not just some holiday we celebrate every year to give gifts?
I wanted to do this advent topic because most churches don't celebrate advent. Its lost in the consumerism and rush of the season. Most of my ideas and the Mother Theresa info came from the book, Watch For the Light, reading for advent and Christmas. A good read I recommend.
My prayer for all is that we forget the hustle and bustle of the season, that we forget how work is going, that we forget how the economy's doing, and that we concentrate on the one thing that really does matter, Jesus of Nazareth
With love,
C.
Luke 1:39-45
Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
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