Gianna Jessen and Jonah: Two lessons in God’s sovereignty

Lesson 1:  Gianna Jessen

Last year I posted a couple of videos of Gianna Jessen speaking in front of the Australian parliament.  I encourage you to go back and read that post and watch those clips, if you haven’t already.  They’re here.   You can read my reaction to her speech, and I would love to hear yours; comments are still open.  This time around, though, I want to point out something a little different than I did then.

What I want you to notice this time is that Ms. Jessen has an extremely high (and humbling) view of God’s sovereignty.  That’s most evident by the fact that she calls her physical disability (cerebral palsy)–which is a result of both a sinful choice and medical ineptitude (a botched saline abortion)–a gift from God.  And she not only calls her disability a gift from God, she radiates joy when she says it.  For her joy; for her humility; for her exalted view of Almighty God, I give thanks.

Lesson 2:  Jonah

I’ve heard a lot of people say that God never violates our free will.  I don’t believe that statement can be supported by Scripture.  In fact, I think there are many passages that flatly contradict it.

Phil Keaggy: “Little Ones”

I’m extremely busy for the next few days, and won’t have time to post much, so my next couple of entries may consist of random videos that I like.

Technically this isn’t a video, but a slide show set to the song “Little Ones” from Phil Keaggy’s 1980 LP “Ph’lip Side”

Who will speak up for the little ones,
Helpless and half abandoned?

If you’ve never done so before, please take a moment after listening to the song and browse through my posts on this topic:  Abortion

I’ve got to speak up; won’t you?

No, Mr. President: John Piper to President Obama

This will be all over the blogosphere soon, but it’s just too good not to post.  It’s John Piper’s passionate response to President Barack Obama’s position on abortion.

HT: Abraham Piper

R.C. Sproul marks Roe v. Wade anniversary with video series

This is a quick follow-up to my last post.  Today, wedged between Sanctity of Human Life Sunday and the anniversary tomorrow of Roe v. Wade, Ligonier Ministries announced they are offering free streaming video of R.C. Sproul’s series on abortion.  Sproul believes abortion is the moral issue of our day.  I agree.  You can watch his six 30-minute videos here.

• Related articles on this blog:  Abortion

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

For many years now, the third Sunday in January has been widely recognized as Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.  President Bush issued a National Proclamation last week, which began with these words:

All human life is a gift from our Creator that is sacred, unique, and worthy of protection. On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, our country recognizes that each person, including every person waiting to be born, has a special place and purpose in this world. We also underscore our dedication to heeding this message of conscience by speaking up for the weak and voiceless among us.

There is abundant biblical support for that first sentence.  “All human life is a gift from our Creator” because we are knit together by God in our mother’s womb, and all of our days (no matter how violently short they’re cut) are known to God even before conception (Psalm 139:13-16).  “All human life is a gift from our Creator” because all men are His offspring (Acts 17:29) and consequently bear His image (James 3:9).

The Doorpost Film Project – Volition

The embedded video has been removed due to an unintentional misuse of it on my part.  Please follow the link after the film synopsis to watch the movie.  It’s excellent.

//FILM SYNOPSIS
Volition (n)- The act of making a choice. Sometimes the choice of inaction has consequences stronger than we could ever imagine. Throughout history, men have been faced with difficult choices in a world that makes it easy for them to conform. This film explores the hope that lies behind every decision made in the face of adversity; the hope that is buried in the heart of those that look beyond themselves and see something bigger worth fighting for (from The Doorpost Film Project)

This film has a simple message.  In matters both great and small, we’re constantly faced with a choice between moral courage and moral cowardice; and the choices we make cannot be divorced from their consequences.

This is a morality tale.  Don’t mistake it for the gospel, or think that I’ve done so.  No one will be saved by moral courage.  No one has ever been good enough to atone for their own innate resistance to God.  No one can know God except through Jesus Christ. “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.” (John 14:6-7)

And there is more to be said about the choices we make than what this short film attempts to say.  But what it does say, it says well.   The choices we make really matter, and often have far-reaching consequences.  Do what’s right, even when it’s hard.

HT: Randy Alcorn

A prophetic voice

The church must never sacrifice its prophetic voice. As long as evil exists, the church must oppose it. As long as abortion is sanctioned in this country, you can rest assured that I will speak out against it.  I will both work and pray for its abolition.

I agree with Al Mohler:

Count me among those who believe that we cannot now step back and negotiate how many abortions we are willing to settle for in order for this issue to just go away. I reject the argument put forth by those who say we should now just step back and accept legal abortion on demand as a permanent reality and move on.

My friend Mark Dever put that argument in its place in his comments included in the article:

“It’s like saying, ‘Let’s work to make sure they kill fewer Jews in the concentration camps this year,”‘ said the Rev. Mark Dever, a pastor in Washington D.C.

Who could live with that? We should rejoice when any mother chooses to keep her child, but this is not where we can stop. Fewer abortions is not good enough.

The legally sanctioned slaughter of the unborn is unacceptable.  I appeal to you–be vigilant in your opposition to abortion.

More on FOCA

As Christians who also happen to be under the authority of civil governments (Romans 13:1-7), we belong to two kingdoms–one earthly, one heavenly.

As good citizens of the earthly kingdom, we are commanded to pray for those in positions of civil authority (1 Timothy 2:1-4).  As good citizens of the heavenly kingdom, our ultimate allegiance belongs to Christ; so that even as we pray for our leaders, we’re to “take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Ephesians 5:11)

The Fight FOCA petition is about exposing the dark, unfruitful work of abortion, and opposing it.  I urge you to prayerfully read and sign the petition, and contact your legislators.

The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) is a disastrous piece of legislation.  Here is a blurb from the Fight FOCA website:

Pray for Barack Obama (Part 2)

The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he turns it wherever he will.  (Proverbs 21:1)

King Nebuchadnezzar’s story is told in Daniel 4.  He learned the hard way that God “does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’” (Daniel 4:35)   Likewise Job, at the height of his suffering and despair, recognized that God’s sovereign purpose and power were irresistible; “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2)

One of the ways God accomplishes his purposes is by turning “the king’s heart” (and the president’s) “wherever he will.”  Yesterday I urged you to pray sincerely for President-elect Barack Obama.  Today I urge you to pray specifically for the Lord to turn his heart.  I’ll explain that in a moment.

God and Government (Part 2): Practical implications of God’s sovereignty

John Piper wrote the article I mentioned in Part 1 in order to elaborate on a point he only touched on in this short video clip, which is not mainly about women in government at all.  (Continue reading below the video.)

Justin Taylor is a friend of John Piper’s and has tremendous respect for him.  After watching that video, however, he thought that some of the things Piper said could easily be misconstrued.  He felt that he had to respond.

R.C. Sproul’s Principles for Voting

A few days ago, R.C. Sproul reflected on the proper relationship between church and state; on the obligation to vote based on what’s right rather than what benefits you personally; and on other related issues.  In the process, Sproul stressed the church’s responsibility to declare the truth in all circumstances, regardless of the consequences.  As he points out, when John the Baptist called attention to the king’s immorality, it cost him his head.  Prophets have never been very popular with kings and presidents.

It’s an interesting article, especially in light of tomorrow’s election.  Here are a couple of excerpts:

Abortion survivor Gianna Jessen speaks again

The more I listen to Gianna Jessen, the more I like her.  She is a remarkable woman; the survivor, as I mentioned previously, of a botched saline abortion.

She makes a lot of people uncomfortable simply by her presence.  That’s because many of those people would like to make it legal to destroy babies (like Gianna) who are born alive during an abortion; albeit most would either never admit to that, or misrepresent the legislation that would allow it.

But back to Gianna Jessen.  A little over a month ago, in the early part of September, she stood before the Australian parliament and spoke with passion and joy and boldness and conviction rarely heard in the halls of any political assembly.  What a breath of fresh air!

Watch the two-part video below (it only takes about 15 minutes) and see for yourself.

Is single issue voting reasonable or not?

Mark Galli, writing for Christianity Today, says he doesn’t consider himself a single issue voter:

I have long been suspicious of “single-issue” activists. I imagine myself thoughtful and reasonable, and chuckle at people whose vote hinges simplistically on a single issue. I prefer the company of other journalists and pundits, as we drink our fair-trade coffee, discuss the enormous complexity of the world, and how we’re going to write about that in the next issue, again.

I’ve already made it clear that at least at this point and time in American history, I am a single issue voter, simply because I cannot be a party to the slaughter of innocent children.  It has absolutely nothing to do with the Republican party (I could care less whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican), with partisan politics, or with anything else, for that matter.

But what about Mark Galli?  He wonders about his motives.

What does he think about people like me?  Read the whole thing to find out.

The Silent Scream

I’m afraid there are a lot of people who’ve never even heard of Dr. Bernard Nathanson.  I’d like for you to know a little about him.  I’ll let him introduce himself.

I am personally responsible for 75,000 abortions.  This legitimises my credentials to speak to you with some authority on the issue.  I was one of the founders of the National Association for the Repeal of the Abortion Laws (NARAL) in the U.S. in 1968.

So begins Dr. Nathanson’s brief Confessions of an Ex-Abortionist.  After performing all those abortions, the doctor came to the unanticipated realization in the mid ’70s that abortion destroys a human life.  In 1984 he produced and narrated a documentary that stunned many of his former colleagues.  A portion of that video is embedded after the jump.

Abort73: Pulling our heads out of the sand

I believe there are many people who, for various reasons, don’t want to know the awful truth about abortion.  The cost of knowing is simply too high for them.  So they go on choosing not to know.  When it comes to abortion, it’s easier for them to bury their head in the sand, like the proverbial ostrich.

I can’t describe how much my heart breaks for the defenseless victims of such willful ignorance.  If you’ve chosen not to know the truth, I would beg you, if it would help, to honestly examine the facts.  Innocent lives really are at stake.

If you think you might need help pulling your head out of the sand, Abort73 offers exactly that.