Month: April 2024

When does life begin?

It has always struck me as odd when I come across people who are so dogmatic and downright scary when it comes to the issue of abortion. The truth about the matter is simple: the bible does not address the issue of abortion. Nowhere in either the old or new testaments is the issue of terminating a pregnancy is specifically addressed. Many attempt to make murder the umbrella sin that covers their person feelings of animosity.

While I definitely believe that abortion is a tragedy, I also think it’s a tragedy how violent and downright murderous people of faith can be towards people who might need this option at some point in their life.

As I have prayed and wrestled in my spirit about what I believed about abortion I often back to the same basic question. When does life begin? Isn’t that the crux of the issue after all? In my years of study and service in the ministry I have only ever found one verse in all of holy writ that shines just a little light on the issue. At least it does for me. Consider this snippet of truth from Genesis:

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Genesis 2:7 KJV

For me, this light breaks through some of the darkness that surrounds this issue. It seems pretty clear to me that life begins precisely at the point of the very first breath. I have paid more attention to this issue more recently because it seems like Roe v. Wade might be in serious trouble. This troubles me in my soul and spirit, but that will be another blog post for another day.

The truth is, in the 1960’s, this was not an issue that evangelical churches had a formal stand on. When pressed, Jerry Falwell told his congregation, from the pulpit on a Sunday morning, that if he really had to make a stand, he too believed that the scriptures taught that life began after the first breath.

Abortion is a tragedy. Especially when factor in issues that might involve the health and safety of child or mother. Not to mention pregnancies that might arise out of rape or incest. The decision for a mother to terminate a pregnancy should be left to her, her family, and her faith. God help us to live in your light and love. Amen.

He Gets Us

I saw this in commercial format on TV the other day and I made a mental note to circle back and find out more about it.

As it turns out, He Gets Us is a media campaign promoting Christ and his relatability to all peoples everywhere, anytime.

Jesus gets our lives because he was human, too.

HeGetsUs.com

He Gets Us is a campaign designed to create cultural change in the way people think about Jesus and his relevance in our lives.

It all started with a diverse group of people passionate about the authentic Jesus of the Bible. He Gets Us is an initiative of Servant Foundation, a designated 501c3 organization with a 100/100 Charity Navigator rating.

We’re not “Left” or “Right.” We’re not affiliated with any church or denomination. We simply want everyone to understand and relate to the authentic Jesus as he’s depicted in the Bible — the Jesus of radical forgiveness, compassion, and love.

This is about getting to know the real Jesus. How Jesus experienced the same problems and emotions that we’ve all been through. It’s about providing a safe place to ask questions, including the tough ones. And realizing that Jesus is as relevant today as he was 2,000 years ago.

He Gets Us

The Oath: A novel by Frank Peretti

I first encountered Frank E. Peretti and his brand of spiritual non-fiction when I was a 19-year-old teenager in bible college on the East Coast. I had only been a Christian and convert from the Catholic Church for three years and very early on in my faith walk I realized I was very intrigued and drawn to the idea of spiritual warfare, the existence of angels, and demonology. I remember getting my hands on This Present Darkness and immediately being riveted and stirred in my soul by the storyline. I devoured the two follow up books, Piercing the Darkness and The Prophet, with rabid interest. Obviously, we know that the works are clearly non-fiction, but much like the film The Exorcist, it was hard to deny their many elements of accuracy and biblical authenticity.

I made a New Year’s Resolution three years ago to pick up a long last habit of reading books. That first year I read 5 books, mostly for fun, which was the most reading I had done since graduate school. The year following I set a goal of 12 books, one each month, and succeeded. This year I am aiming to beat that total. As I have been working on this site and trying to rediscover my spiritual voice I began to search for books that might help stir the pot of insight and inspiration. Enter stage right The Oath. Once I started it, in similar fashion decades ago I simply could not stop or easily put it down. Complete with forces of darkness and their followers that are pitted against regular, every day folks who learn to rely on their faith and personal relationship with God to navigate their way; this book has it all. Here is the official book synopsis…

An ancient evil. A long-forgotten oath. A town with a deadly secret. The result unfolds in this gripping thriller with over one million copies sold.

Something evil is at work in Hyde River, an isolated mining town in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest.

Under the cover of darkness, a predator strikes without warning—taking life in the most chilling and savage fashion.

The community of Hyde River watches in terror as residents suddenly vanish. Yet, the more locals are pressed for information, the more they close ranks, sworn to secrecy by their forefathers’ hidden sins.

Only when Hyde River’s secrets are exposed is the true extent of the danger fully revealed. What the town discovers is something far more deadly than anything they’d imagined. Something that doesn’t just stalk its victims—it has the power to turn hearts black with decay as it slowly fills their souls with darkness.

Inside book cover

I have always loved how Frank Peretti is able to weave good, sound fundamental doctrine into the lives of the protagonists and keep those characters complex, human, and relatable. I love he can flesh out spiritual dynamics and good biblical teaching without being preachy, pushy, or just plain corny. I also really enjoy how he paints the dark spiritual forces in the world and effectively, and mostly accurately, connect them to bad actors. Peretti portrays wonderfully in this book how sin and evil is a stain on one’s heart that can then poison and pollute any soul in multiple ways. I found this book stirring and jarring and I mean both of those descriptors in the best possible light. If you are looking for a good read that will also feed your spirit I would recommend it without reservation.