DAILY BIBLE VERSES AND PRAYER THOUGHTS MONDAY - VERSES: Ezekiel 3:18-19; 18:20, 23-24; Matthew 7:13; John 8:21-24 PRAYER THOUGHT: Lord, Help me to remember that people are dying lost each day. TUESDAY - VERSES: Exodus 21:22-25; Numbers 12:12; Ecclesiastes 11:5; Matthew 2:16-18 PRAYER THOUGHT: Father, Help me remember your children who were never born because of abortion or who have been killed in their innocence. WEDNESDAY - VERSES: Ruth 4:14-15; Psalm 71:9; Mark 1:40-41; PRAYER THOUGHT: God, Help me remember the sick and elderly who have no loved ones to care for them as they near death. THURSDAY - VERSES: 2 Samuel 4:4; 9:6-8; John 9:2-3 PRAYER THOUGHT: Creator, remind me that even those who are crippled, handicapped, disfigured, or mentally disabled are still created in Your image. FRIDAY - VERSES: Job 3:2-4,9-11; 10:18-19; Numbers 11:11-15; 1 Kings 19:2-4 PRAYER THOUGHT: Merciful God, help me to reach out in love and mercy to those who do not think life is worth living and may be considering suicide. SATURDAY - VERSES: Job 19:21; Psalm 69:20-21; Isaiah 13:18 PRAYER THOUGHT: Master, forgive me for the times that I have grown calloused to those around me who do not have the abundant life now or the hope of Heaven after death. N N N N N N N N N N N N N ASSIGNMENTS 1. Daily read over this material and read or sing the song. 2. Place the scripture where you will see it each day. 3. Think of how you think of how you can help save a life or a soul from death. 4. Write down ways you can inform others about alternatives to abortion, suicide, or dying lost. 5. Plan to tell the class about efforts you have made to rescue the perishing, or about an opportunity that was missed. N N N N N N N N N N N N N A man picking up sea creatures on the beach and throwing them in was asked what difference it made when there were countless creatures stranded. He threw another in saying, "Made a difference to that one!" SPIRITUAL HEALTH REGIMEN - WEEK 61 SANCTITY OF LIFE - 9-22-13 to 9-28-13 SCRIPTURE - Proverbs 24:11-12 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; [12] 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? COMMENT – We must protect the innocent from being destroyed at the hands of the wicked. We cannot ignore those who are suffering. Even those sinners who are heading to death are created in God's image and must be warned of the punishment awaiting those who die in their sin. SONG - RESCUE THE PERISHING 1. Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, snatch them in pity from sin and the grave; Weep o'er the erring one, Lift up the fallen, Tell them of Jesus the mighty to save. 2. Tho' they are slighting Him, Still He is waiting, Waiting the penitent child to receive; Plead with them earnestly, Plead with them gently: He will forgive if they truly believe. 3. Down in the human heart, Crushed by the tempter, Feelings lie buried that grace can restore: Touched by a loving heart, Wakened by kindness, Chords that were broken will vibrate once more. 4. Rescue the perishing, Duty demands it; Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide; Back to the narrow way Patiently win them; Tell the poor wand'rer a Savior has died. CHORUS: Rescue the perishing, care for the dying; Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save. THOUGHTS A LETTER FROM THE FUTURE This letter is dated Jan. 22, 2023 (the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.) Dear Mom: Can you believe it's 2023 already? I'm still writing 22 on nearly everything. Seems like yesterday I was sitting in first grade celebrating the century change! I know we haven't really chatted since Christmas. Sorry! Anyway, I have some difficult news and I really didn't want to call or talk face-to-face. Ted's had a promotion, and I should be up for a hefty raise this year if I keep putting in those crazy hours. You know how I work at it. Yes, we're still struggling with the bills. Tim's been OK at kindergarten, though he complains about going. But then he wasn't happy about day care either, so what can I do? He's been a real problem, Mom. He's a good kid, but quite honestly he's an unfair burden at this time in our lives. Ted and I have talked this through and through and finally made a choice. Plenty of other families have made it and are much better off. Our preacher is supportive and says hard decisions sometimes are necessary. The family is a "system," and the demands of one member shouldn't be allowed to ruin the whole. He told us to be prayerful, consider ALL the factors and do what is right to make the family work. He says that even though he probably wouldn't do it himself, the decision really is ours. He was kind enough to refer us to a children's clinic near here, so at least that part's easy. I'm not an uncaring mother. I do feel sorry for the little guy. I think he overheard Ted and me talking about "it" the other night. I turned around and saw him standing at the bottom step in his pj's and the little bear you gave him under his arm and his eyes sort of welling up. Mom, the way he looked at me just about broke my heart. But I honestly believe this is better for Timmy, too. It's not fair to force him to live in a family that can't give him the time and attention he deserves. And PLEASE don't give me the kind of grief Grandma gave you over your abortions. It is the same thing, you know. We've told him he's just going in for a vaccination. Anyway, they say the termination procedure is painless. I guess it's just as well you haven't seen that much of him. Love to Dad. Jane (75th anniversary of Roe v. Wade) January 22, 2048 Dear Sis, Well, it's hard to believe that we're halfway through the first century of the "new millennium." It seems like no time since the adults were worrying about Y2K and all the problems with computers that it might cause. Now it's even hard to remember what life was like with computers! I don't know how we survived with such inadequate equipment. I can remember trying to use those clunkers in elementary school. Things are so much easier and faster now with this new equipment--and so compact! I'm sorry that we haven't kept in touch through the years. You know how hard it is. Our careers have been so demanding. We have to work so much just to keep up with everything. But Ted is Vice President of his firm now, and I'm due for another raise soon. It seems like life should be getting easier, but we just seem to keep working harder and rarely are at home except to sleep. And we have to keep paying the bills. Which brings me to my purpose: Mom is getting to be more and more difficult. Her mind is not that good, and it's getting to be dangerous to leave her during the day. She really didn't want to give up her independence and move in with us, but she could not take care of herself any longer. To be honest, we don't want her here. She's a big nuisance, always spilling things like a child. She says it's because of her arthritis. And she never wants to eat the meals I prepare. Oh, no! I have to spend fifteen minutes or more preparing something special for her. She can hardly get in and out of bed now or go to the bathroom without help, so she doesn't need to be left alone. But you know I have to work, and we can't afford someone to stay with her. She's just become such a tremendous burden. It's unfair to us to be expected to take care of her, and we sure can't afford to put her in one of those homes. There are so few of those left because most people are just terminating their parents anyway. The homes that are left are so expensive. Of course, the expense would not be for very long because I'm told that the nurses there just allow the patients to starve so they can make room for someone else. The termination process is so much more economical and takes less time. It will be easier for Mom, too, if we just get it over with. Now I know you don't exactly approve of termination, but you know it's really not any different than abortion. And it's not any different from when we had little Timmy terminated, or when your husband had that car wreck and couldn't walk or feed himself anymore. You agreed with the doctors that the best thing to do was to relieve his suffering. No one wants to be a burden to others. Anyway, the decision has been made. It's scheduled for two weeks from today. Your sister, Jane (100th anniversary of Roe v. Wade) January 22, 2073 Dear Diary, It's hard to believe that I'm such an old woman now. I've seen a lot of life in my 79 years. All of my family members are gone. Ted and I only had one child, you know. After we terminated little Tim and I had those three abortions, I was not able to have a child when we finally reached the point that we could afford a full-time nanny. Ted has been gone a little over 20 years now. After he had his heart attack, the doctors said it was just too costly to operate. Their time and the expense was just not worth it for a man 60 years old. I hated to admit it, but I agreed with them. The injection was not painful; he just went to sleep. Mom has been gone even longer; Sis is gone, but we were never close any way. Almost all my friends have gone by injection; a few were given a choice and chose to take a pill. Only one or two tried to fight it, but there's no use. This is just the way things are now. Everybody has to go sometime, and I've lived a lot longer than most people even hope to live. The old, the sick, and the crippled have to get out of the way and make room for those who can make the most of life and contribute the most to society. We have to control the population, too, you know. So, diary, I guess it's my turn now, and you're all I have left.. They say I have a heart problem and have scheduled termination for next week. I don't have any regrets, though. I've lived a good life. I've always done what's best for the greater good, and isn't that what life is all about? Doing what benefits the most people and the environment? Anyway, maybe I'll be reincarnated as a sea turtle. It's illegal to kill a sea turtle, you know. Well, goodbye, diary. Jane N N N N N N N N N N N N N Less than half of the people who go in for an abortion survive. N N N N N N N N N N N N N If each X below is 50,000 deaths, this is how many have died in legalized abortions in this country since 1973. More than 56,500,000. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX N N N N N N N N N N N N N Compare those X's over the past 40 years with the deaths in some of the wars our nation has had in 200+ years: Civil War - XX XX XX XX XX XX \ WWII - XX XX XX XX WWI - XX \ Vietnam - X\ Korea - X Revolutionary - \ War on Terror - less than 1/4 of one X Total American deaths in all wars our country has fought: XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX XX \ N N N N N N N N N N N N N HOW MUCH MORE VALUABLE IS A MAN THAN A SHEEP? INTRODUCTION: A. Dr. Peter Singer (Pediatrics, July 1983): "The Philosophical foundations of the sanctity of life view have been knocked asunder. We can no longer base our ethics on the notion that human beings are a special form of life made in the image of God, singled out from all other animals with an immortal soul. Our better understanding of own nature has bridged the gulf that once was thought to lie between ourselves and other species. So why should we believe that the mere fact that a being is a member of the species homo sapiens endows its life with some unique, almost infinite value? Only the fact that the defective infant is of the species homo sapiens leads us to treat it any differently from the dog or pig. The order of species, or species membership alone, should not have that kind of moral relativity." B. Mat 12:11-12 And he said unto them, What man shall there be of you, that shall have one sheep, and if this fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man of more value than a sheep! Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath day. I. HUMAN LIFE DEFINED A. James 2:26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead. 1. Five Basic Positions Concerning When Human Life Begins: a. The infant becomes human at some point after birth. b. Baby receives soul upon taking its first breath of air. c. Life begins when the baby could survive outside the mothers body (viability). d. Life begins when the baby moves (i.e. when the mother feels the baby move). e. Life begins at conception. - This is the only one the Bible teaches. II. ABORTION A. A young unmarried girl has become pregnant. She was supposed to be married soon, but her fiancé will know the child she is carrying is not his and consider leaving her. If he does it quietly she will have enough trouble, but if he tells it publicly he would be believed over her. Her religious parents would be scandalized if it is discovered, in fact, she could be executed according to the law in her land. She is poor and her society does not offer many opportunities to a woman other than marriage. There is little hope that she can raise the child alone. Even if she is not lawfully punished, she will be ridiculed by everyone who finds out. No one would believe her if she told them who the baby's father is. Even if her fiancé marries her rumors will abound because the baby will be born too soon. Should she run away? She could tell people elsewhere that she is a widow and they might believe it. Should she kill herself? Maybe no one would ever know. It could look like an accident falling of the steep place outside of town. Should she cause a still birth / a miscarriage / abort the baby? It could be dangerous, but if she acts soon maybe no one else will know. Thankfully, different choices were made and Jesus was born and raised by Mary and Joseph. While there will never be another Jesus, how many special children who could have done great things were never born. B. Psalm 51:5, "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me". David began to exist at conception; it wasn't just a blob of matter that later became David. C. Proverbs 6:16-17, "These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood." How He must hate the hands of abortionists! III. Euthanasia A. Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. B. Leviticus 19:32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD. C. Nearly one in four doctors admit they have given patients a drug dose to end their life . . . without permission. IV. Suicide A. Acts 16:27-28 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. (28) But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. B. Matthew 27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. Acts 1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. Acts 1:25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. V. Murder A. Genesis 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. B. Genesis 9:5-6 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. (6) Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. CONCLUSION A. Summary B. Proverbs 24:11-12 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; [12] 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 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; [12] 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 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; [12] 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 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; [12] 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 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; [12] 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 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; [12] 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 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; [12] 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 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; [12] 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 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; [12] 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 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; [12] 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 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; [12] 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 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; [12] 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 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; [12] 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 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; [12] 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?