Pregnancy center work is interesting and NEVER dull. Not only do we help families facing crisis we do it under attack from others. You wouldn't think that there are those in our country that want to attack us but there are. It doesn't make sense that people would publicly state that helping women facing unintended pregnancies should be stopped. But it is happening and is about to happen on a grander scale.
Recently I attended a conference preparing us for the coming attacks that are scheduled for this year. You might think this would be scary but really it just causes me great sadness. They believe the lies they spread, and others who do not know any different will believe them too.
On Friday, February 27, 2009 Mary B. Worthington wrote an article in The Bulletin (http://thebulletin.us/articles/2009/02/27/top_stories/doc49a7d5f33eb8a931983371.txt) that states:
"In an e-mail sent to college activists, the Feminist Majority Foundation’s Campus Program announced a nationwide protest against pregnancy care centers that provide free aid and abortion alternatives for women." This protest is scheduled for Monday April 13th.
I went to the FMF's website and read some of the material they have there. Here is one paragraph of what I found: "In reality, many of these centers attempt to coerce and intimidate women out of considering abortion as an option, and prevent women from receiving neutral and comprehensive medical advice. They are typically run by anti-abortion volunteers who are not licensed medical professionals. Crisis pregnancy centers also often spread false information, such as the disproved and discredited claims that abortions increase the risk of breast cancer and frequently cause mental trauma."
Sounds convincing doesn't it. With over 2,500 pregnancy centers in our country I can't state that there isn't one out there that hasn't used the best methods to serve the women they meet. I can only share that at the center I'm involved in (and many others I've personally visited) the goal is to love her, respect her, never judge her, and give her all the information she needs to make an informed decision. We are Christian and life-affirming and we do NOT hide that fact from them. We also will NOT profit from their decision putting us in a unique position to offer them honest information on all their "choices". We have a licensed nurse on staff and a licensed medical director with years of ob/gyn experience. And I could go on but I figure anyone who has read this note this far is someone who already knows that.
So why post this? So you can be prepared to be an advocate to others who don't know the truth about pregnancy centers. Know that attacks are coming, planned, and will be specific. Someone you know will believe what they hear or read in the media. Be ready, we NEED you!
In a recent survey 80% of women who had an abortion at a clinic that states it is pro-choice said they were never given another choice. No one educated them on parenting as an option or on adoption. 80% were never given resources that exist right in their own community. Those same women also stated that had they known there was support somewhere ("anywhere"), they would have made a different choice. I believe that statistic because when we fully educate the women we see, over 80% of them decide it is in their best interest to continue their pregnancies.
What are those opposed to pregnancy centers really afraid of? Is it who we are or what we do or is it perhaps that we are making a difference in their bottom line?
So here we sit in this "he said, she said" mentality. Each side claiming the other side lies and uses deceptive practices. In these moments I am glad I'm intimately involved in this work so I can see and recognize truth. But to end where I started, I am also deeply saddened that there are individuals out there who want to close down pregnancy centers, believing we are harming women. Deeply saddened. :(
And I ask for prayers of protection for pregnancy centers all over our country. And pray for those that may not be doing everything in the most appropriate manner. Pray God brings to them volunteers and individuals to guide them and help them. But most importantly pray for the women who might get caught in this crossfire. Pray they are led to a place of truth and that their fears can be conquered and that their needs will be met. Pray if they are Christian they will rely on the ONE who can help them. Pray if they are not Christian that God will direct their hearts to Him. The only One who can give them the truth they really need. For this I will NOT apologize, and if I am accused of sharing Christ with someone then I stand ready to face that accusation. AMEN
WELCOME!
T - i - double G - grrrr
March 31, 2009
March 13, 2009
How uuuuu doin'?
So I get asked this question a lot. Most of the time it is just a form of saying hi. But there are a few people who, when they ask, you know they are really looking for you to answer it. Well, just yesterday someone asked me "How are you doing?" and I replied that I'd have to think about how to best answer that question.
I thought and thought and here is what I came up with:
Have you seen pictures of that new tourist attraction over the Grand Canyon? It's a glass (floor and all) walkway shaped like a horseshoe and it goes straight out over the Grand Canyon.
I picture myself there. I'm the only tourist around. The walkway is completely glass, no support beams at all. I'm standing right at the edge of solid ground about to walk out on it when I just stop and look around. The beauty is breathtaking. I almost feel like falling on my knees to praise God for his handiwork when I realize how immaculate the glass walkway is. Really! It almost looks invisible because it is so perfectly clean and free of any cracks at all. I think to myself, "how'd they do that?" but don't really seek an answer to the question.
I decide it is time to walk out on the glass when an employee tells me to have a good time and adds almost as an after thought, "Oh, by they way, not all the glass panes might be in place."
Now, a sane person would probably stop and say "WHAT???"; I however decide to go for the walk. Each time I put my foot down I don't know if it will land on solid glass or thin air. Will I survive to take another step or plummet to my death?
That's how I'm doing.
I shared this word picture with my husband when he asked that same question. He is one of those in my life that really wants an answer when he asks it. After I told him how I was doing he looked at me and with a slight little grin said, "Put some pebbles in your pocket and toss them out in front of you before you take the next step."
What a guy! And, what wisdom! May your day be filled with adventure and challenges. May you not be given more than you can handle. And if you are, may you have pebbles in your pocket to keep you safe. :)
Grand Canyon Skywalk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvzlZuWrJNw
I thought and thought and here is what I came up with:
Have you seen pictures of that new tourist attraction over the Grand Canyon? It's a glass (floor and all) walkway shaped like a horseshoe and it goes straight out over the Grand Canyon.
I picture myself there. I'm the only tourist around. The walkway is completely glass, no support beams at all. I'm standing right at the edge of solid ground about to walk out on it when I just stop and look around. The beauty is breathtaking. I almost feel like falling on my knees to praise God for his handiwork when I realize how immaculate the glass walkway is. Really! It almost looks invisible because it is so perfectly clean and free of any cracks at all. I think to myself, "how'd they do that?" but don't really seek an answer to the question.
I decide it is time to walk out on the glass when an employee tells me to have a good time and adds almost as an after thought, "Oh, by they way, not all the glass panes might be in place."
Now, a sane person would probably stop and say "WHAT???"; I however decide to go for the walk. Each time I put my foot down I don't know if it will land on solid glass or thin air. Will I survive to take another step or plummet to my death?
That's how I'm doing.
I shared this word picture with my husband when he asked that same question. He is one of those in my life that really wants an answer when he asks it. After I told him how I was doing he looked at me and with a slight little grin said, "Put some pebbles in your pocket and toss them out in front of you before you take the next step."
What a guy! And, what wisdom! May your day be filled with adventure and challenges. May you not be given more than you can handle. And if you are, may you have pebbles in your pocket to keep you safe. :)
Grand Canyon Skywalk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvzlZuWrJNw
March 3, 2009
The enemy within
What is this melancholy mood that has taken over me? Where did it bubble up from? Why can't I focus on the work in front of me?
It was sudden and unexpected. I went to lunch with some old friends and had a great time. Gone for a little over an hour I come back to my desk with more on it than when I left. The red message light on my phone annoys me and I can't seem to find the energy to read the many unread emails in my inbox.
I think of all there is to do and am frozen by the vast amount of work that exists. What is first? What is second? What is last? Last is the most important because I know I will never get to it.
But that isn't where this sadness is from. I go to the internet to listen to my favorite Christian radio station and I can't "connect". The "server is busy, try again later". LATER? But I need it now. I try my second favorite radio station and the website so complicated that I get sick of following the instructions that say "click here to listen online".
What is this consuming desire to hear Christian music? It stems for this deep need that took over my day to be near to God. But why and why so suddenly? I have this overwhelming need to walk out the front door and just keep walking. But where would I go? Then I remember being at the hospital last week and hearing the desperate cry of a mom whose only child was dying. She said she just felt like running away. She just felt like she needed to run and run and run. No plan, no direction, just run. I remember hearing a another woman express this feeling the same way when she was going through an impossible situation. But why do I feel like this right now? Are the events of the past week catching up to me?
I don't know but my phone rang and reality hits hard. This short introspective break must end. Duty calls.
It was sudden and unexpected. I went to lunch with some old friends and had a great time. Gone for a little over an hour I come back to my desk with more on it than when I left. The red message light on my phone annoys me and I can't seem to find the energy to read the many unread emails in my inbox.
I think of all there is to do and am frozen by the vast amount of work that exists. What is first? What is second? What is last? Last is the most important because I know I will never get to it.
But that isn't where this sadness is from. I go to the internet to listen to my favorite Christian radio station and I can't "connect". The "server is busy, try again later". LATER? But I need it now. I try my second favorite radio station and the website so complicated that I get sick of following the instructions that say "click here to listen online".
What is this consuming desire to hear Christian music? It stems for this deep need that took over my day to be near to God. But why and why so suddenly? I have this overwhelming need to walk out the front door and just keep walking. But where would I go? Then I remember being at the hospital last week and hearing the desperate cry of a mom whose only child was dying. She said she just felt like running away. She just felt like she needed to run and run and run. No plan, no direction, just run. I remember hearing a another woman express this feeling the same way when she was going through an impossible situation. But why do I feel like this right now? Are the events of the past week catching up to me?
I don't know but my phone rang and reality hits hard. This short introspective break must end. Duty calls.
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