“Our once great western Christian civilization is dying. If this matters to followers of Jesus Christ, then we must set aside our denominational differences and work together to strengthen the things that remain and reclaim what has been lost. Evangelicals and Catholics must stand together to re-establish that former Christian culture and moral consensus. We have the numbers and the organization but the question is this: Do we have the will to win this present spiritual battle for Jesus Christ against secularism? Will we prayerfully and cooperatively work toward a new Christian spiritual revival ― or will we choose to hunker down in our churches and denominationalisms and watch everything sink into the spiritual and moral abyss of a New Dark Age?” - Mark Davis Pickup

Monday, August 31, 2015

SUPREME COURTS USURPING DEMOCRACY

Canada's Supreme Court
Canada in about to embark upon an audacious social course. We must accept the Supreme Court's unanimous decision to strike down laws prohibiting assisted suicide of the sick, disabled and depressed. It is a departure from our legal foundations in British Common Law that have -- for more than 700 years -- forbidden or punished assisted suicide. Apparently our illustrious 'boomer "Justices" are wiser than the collected human wisdom of centuries. 

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) just concluded their annual meeting. Why did they not refuse outright to cooperate with high court to murder suicidal people?  A doctor's job is to save lives not take lives -- or at least do no harm![1] The Supreme Court put the dirty work of their odious assisted suicide decision in the laps of physicians. 
Canada's Parliament

The federal government does have a tool at their disposal to override the Supreme Court's horrible ruling. They could invoke the "notwithstanding" clause (Section 33) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. With a federal election looming will any party elected use it? No. 

Thirty-five million Canadians must abide by the edict of 9 activist judges, just like we have been forced to abide by the Supreme Court's 1988 decision to strike down Canada's abortion law. (Today in Canada there are no legal protections for unborn children. Abortion is legal at any point during all 9 months of pregnancy.)   

Increasingly, Americans are at risk of being ruled by an activist
U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court too. We saw this with Roe v Wade and their same-sex marriage ruling even though voters in 31 of 50 states voted to define marriage as being between a man and a women.[2] Democracy is being usurped by Supreme Courts. 


In his first inaugural address, Abraham Lincoln said this:


". . . the candid citizen must confess that if the policy of the government upon vital questions affecting the whole people is to be irrevocably fixed by decisions of the Supreme Court, the instant they are made in ordinary litigation between parties in personal actions the people will have ceased to be their own rulers, having to that extent practically resigned their government into the hands of eminent tribunal."

The insight of the great man is coming to pass, at least in Canada. The people have ceased to be their own rulers in these vital moral questions of life and death. In such matters we are ruled by Supreme Court tyrants whose benevolence is limited indeed. 
_________________________

[1] Post-Hippocratic physicians may not agree. Perhaps they would pass off such views woefully old fashioned for the Brave New 21st Century world of utilitarian medicine, bioethics and managed killing, er, death. 
[2] See Katrina Trinko, "States that voted against Gay Marriage Now Have It Forced Upon Them", The Daily Signal at http://dailysignal.com/2014/10/06/states-voted-gay-marriage-now-forced-upon/

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

WHAT'S THE POINT OF REGAINING MY HEALTH BUT LOSING MY HUMANITY?

http://www.centerformedicalprogress.org/2015/08/planned-parenthood-baby-parts-buyer-stemexpress-wants-another-50-liversweek-financial-benefits-for-abortion-clinics/ 

WARNING: This post contains two photos of aborted babies

The link above is to the 8th of 12 videos produced by the Center For Medical Progress. This one features baby parts buyer StemExpress Founder and CEO, Cate Dyer, saying they want 50 MORE fetal livers PER WEEK. And as they say, Planned Parenthood is a good source because of their volume of abortions.

It is stated on their website (StemExpress.com): "StemExpress fuels regenerative medicine and tranlational research by supplying human-derived specimens to biomedical researchers around the world. Founded in 2010, StemExpress is the only company of its kind to procure tissues and isolate cells for researchers' individual needs in its own labs."


This aborted child would
be referred to as an "intact specimen"
In their mission statement they say "StemExpress is dedicated to saving lives by accelerating the cure and prevention of disease." Do you see something wrong in this?  It sounds so good until you consider the the "human-derived specimens" are often aborted children! These are the intact specimens they refer too.

Proper ethics dictates that it is wrong to use the bodies of
intentionally murdered human beings (fetal or otherwise) to save other human beings. This is not legitimate medical research. Society must never sanction such things. Society must outlaw such practices and punish those involved.

Through massive federal and state funding for Planned Parenthood, the United States is sanctioning barbarism that would have appalled previous generations dating back to America's Founding Fathers.


Me
As someone incurably ill and disabled with multiple sclerosis (MS) I dream of a cure that would return me to full able-bodied health. But I don't want any treatment or cure derived from the taking of another life. If my cure comes from the death of an unborn child I will refuse it, as tempting as deliverance from a horrible disease it may be. For more than 30 years I have wanted a cure -- but not at that price.

What is the point of regaining my health but losing my humanity? 

Friday, August 21, 2015

NATIONWIDE PROTEST TO DEFUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD

August 22nd will see a nationwide protest across America against government funding of Planned Parenthood, which receives over $550 million annually. I call on Catholics and evangelical Christians to come together tomorrow in the closest of any of 64 cities across America to demand Planned Parenthood stop receiving government funding. 


Timothy Morgan
Editor for Christianity Today
Christianity Today online magazine has a story on this critically important show of pro-Life unity. See article by Timothy C. Morgan, "Planned Parenthood subject of nationwide protest on Saturday" http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2015/august/planned-parenthood-subject-of-nationwide-protest-on-saturda.html 


Phil Lawler 
On 17 August  2015, the online publication CatholicCulture.org carried a commentary by Phil Lawler entitled "What's your diocese doing for the campaign to defund Planned Parenthood?" See link here https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/the-city-gates.cfm?id=1123 

It's an important question that must be asked of all Christians, not just Catholics. Evangelical denominations and churches should be using this moment in time to rally their memberships to pressure their Members of Congress (Senate and House of Representatives) and state governments to stop funding Planned Parenthood. A great way of showing this is by rallying together tomorrow.

The issue is nothing less than the dignity and sanctity of human life that God has created in His Image -- and calls us to protect and care for. Abortion and harvesting baby body parts is a direct and heinous assault of that dignity and sanctity. 

Although I am in Canada, I will be with you in prayer. You are Christ's hands and feet. God bless. --
Mark

[Click image below or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnuWkbZuG1k for Libera "You Were There.", 4:04]

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

I CANNOT BE SILENT IN THE FACE OF SUCH EVIL OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD

WARNING: The video below contains graphic images of advanced unborn baby that has been aborted.

I wish with all my heart that my conscience did not compel me to post a  new video of Planned Parenthood's barbaric abortions and harvesting fetal parts. I cannot be silent in the face of such evil. The video below is the latest release from the Center for Medical Progress.

I want American readers of this blog to hold accountable at the ballot box during the U.S. general election in 2016 those Members of Congress who stopped the bill to defund of Planned Parenthood. Find out who they were and ensure they are not re-elected. They are unfit for public office. Support only those congressional candidates (Senate and House of Representatives) who vow to defund Planned Parenthood.  This not the only issue of concern for public office, but it is a disqualifying issue 

The abortion holocaust must stop! -- Mark Davis Pickup

[Click image below or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzMAycMMXp8 for "Human Capital - Episode 3: Planned Parenthood's Custom Abortions For Superior Products" (10:37). Warning: contains disturbing images of aborted child. 



HUMANLIFEMATTERS BLOG SURPASSES 400,000 HITS

The HumanLifeMatters blog has just passed 400,000 hits. Readership is primarily American and Canadian. It is gratifying to see such numbers for a disabled old man's opinions. 

If you are interested in posting anything in keeping with the theme of the blog, send to HumanLifeMatters@shaw.ca -- embed in the body of your email. On the subject line put "For HumanLifeMatters blog".  There's no money but lots of exposure.

Mark

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

FR. ROBERT BARRON ON PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND THE LOSS OF HUMAN DIGNITY

Fr. Robert Barron
Please watch the video below by Fr. Robert Barron. He is speaking about the loss of human dignity, in the wake of horrendous Planned Parenthood videos. As always, Fr. Barron has some deep and critical insights for us all. His comments go beyond the Planned Parenthood mindset to the heart of certain inalienable rights endowed to every human life by God their Creator.

[Click on image below or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_blSXFFfU3M



CONSEQUENCES OF ORIGINAL SIN


At the very dawn of human history, God’s perfect love was betrayed. It is impossible to fathom a holy and perfect God’s grief to know that his beloved human creation (a creation bearing His image) willfully disobeyed him and introduced sin and death into the perfection, love and joyful nurture of Eden. When Adam and Eve sinned they not only brought death into the life-affirming Garden of Eden (and the Ages to come), they severed their connection to Joy.  It was a terrible moment of division between humanity and God that would mar the rest of human history. Sin brought death![1] It was not part of the original divine plan that man should die.

Michelangelo temptation in the
Garden of Eden
In Genesis’ account of the Fall of man, the serpent tempts Adam and Eve to eat of the tree of good and evil.[2]

"Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the animals that the Lord. The serpent asked the woman, ‘Did God really tell you not to eat from any of the trees in the Garden? The woman answered the serpent: “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; it is only about the fruit of tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.’ But the serpent said to the woman: “You will certainly not die! No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is bad. The woman saw that the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eye, and desirable for gaining wisdom.  So she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.  Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. When they heard the sound of the Lord God moving about in the garden at the breezy time of the day, the man and his wife hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.  The Lord then called the man and asked him, ‘Where are  you?’ He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.’ Then he asked, ‘Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, from the tree which I had forbidden you to eat!  The man replied, ‘The woman whom you put here with me—she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.” The Lord then asked the woman, “Why did you do such a thing?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.” (Genesis 3.1-13)

In the  following, I have made a point of inserting Scripture to illustrate characteristics of sin that strips us from relationships with God.  It also highlights characteristics of sin that have marred my own life, and many of the pitfalls I’ve fallen into throughout my own life journey.

·       The serpent began its temptation by asking a question
designed to plant seeds of doubt in Eve’s mind: “Did God really tell you not to eat from any of the trees in the Garden?”[3]  Rather than approaching Adam to whom God had given the commandment (before Eve was even created), the serpent poses the question to her.

Isn’t that just like Satan, always pushing the fig leaf!  Satan always tempts us at our weakest point. God put humanity in a perfect Garden with every good thing and everything that is good for food.[4]  God gave Adam a sense of purposeful work in tilling and keeping the garden.[5] Only one tree in the garden was forbidden on pain of death: the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil.[6]  The command not to eat of this tree simply required man’s obedience. Thus God established moral responsibility in man’s relationship with Him. Previously, man’s responsibility was only to be fruitful and multiply and have dominion (not domination) over the earth.[7]  

·       Eve’s response to the serpent’s question was a distortion of God’s command. She misquoted God by saying “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; it is only about the fruit of tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.’”[8] God’s command said nothing about touch. That was added by the serpent. The poisonous question and subtle challenge was having its intended effect. The serpent/Satan became bolder.

        He lied to Eve. “You certainly will not die!”  It was a direct
denial of God’s earlier pronouncement in Genesis 2.17.  He accuses God of having unworthy motives to keep back good things from the couple:

“No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like Gods who know what is good and what is bad.”

·       As with most sin, the promise was is greater than what was actually delivered.  Not only was the forbidden fruit tantalizing as food but it promised so much more: wisdom and self-exaltation.  Could the serpent’s words possibly be true?  Would her eyes really be opened to something she was missing?  Why couldn’t she enjoy it?!  She gazed at the tree with desire.  Such beauty and allure! With that empty promise still ringing in her ears — “you will be like gods” ─ she reached out and took the fruit, gave some to Adam, and they both ate it.  Indeed their eyes were opened but not to wisdom and elevation to godhead. Their eyes were opened to the poverty of their nakedness!  Eve was no godess; Adam was no god.  The infernal serpent’s promise was worse than empty. It was a trap! Mankind’s childlike innocence was gone; the ‘wisdom’ of knowing good and evil did not give them glory, only shame and fear!

Although the Scriptural account does not speak of it, another casualty at that moment must have been their continual and ready access to Joy.  How could Joy not vanish? Man was separated from God by sin and he was going to die. 

Sin always separates humanity from God’s Joy but not God’s love. 

The Garden that was once a paradise of joy and intimate fellowship between man and God became a place of fear and hiding from God’s presence.  Surely the omnipotent God knew what happened, yet he did not hunt down the wayward couple. Instead the Bible tells us God went walking in the garden in the cool of the day calling out to Adam, “Where are you?” (3.8-9.) God did not confront the couple directly with their disobedience; instead He allowed them an opportunity to take ownership of their sin. God asked if they had eaten of the one fruit they were commanded to leave alone in a garden filled with other delectable food. Their response was typically human: shift the blame and responsibility for their sin.

 Adam’s initial response was to blame God and then Eve—put the blame anywhere but at his own feet: “The woman whom you put here with me—she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.”[9] [emphasis added.] I can relate to this, so much of my life has been spent shifting responsibility for my own sin.

Eve’s response was to say she was deceived by the serpent, and so she was. Adam willfully disobeyed God’s command.  Nonetheless, they chose to sin and sin always destroys. It has the effect of driving a wedge between God and humans, or nations, or between a man and other people, or even between a man and himself. 

Protoevangelium and the Divine Vine.

Even in the catastrophe of the immediate situation of sin driving a wedge between humanity and a holy and perfect God, we see God’s love displayed.  Although the couple was severely punished, we should note that neither Adam nor Eve were cursed by God. (That distinction was reserved only for the serpent.) God made provision to bring those he created in his image back to him. This is alluded to in God’s comment to the serpent in Genesis 3:15: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel.” 

Biblical scholars have often referred to this verse as the
protoevangelium (the first good news). God alluded to Christ’s victory over sin. The New American Catholic Study Bible footnote to 3.15 states:

Because “the Son of God appeared that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1Jn 3,8), the passage can be understood as the first promise of a redeemer for fallen mankind. The woman’s offspring then is primarily Jesus Christ. [10]

My copy of Thomas Nelson computer Bible reference program quotes a number of Bible Commentaries that refer to Christ in Genesis 3:15.[11]  For instance, it cites, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible:

"A gracious promise is here made of Christ, as the deliverer of fallen man from the power of Satan. …Here was the dawning of the gospel day. No sooner was the wound given than the remedy was provided and revealed. Here, in the head of the book, as the word is (Heb. 10:7), in the beginning of the Bible, it is written of Christ, that he should do the will of God."
[12]
Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary says: 

"The Seed of the woman is the Promised One, the coming Messiah of Israel. Seed continues to be used throughout the Bible as a messianic term (Num. 24:7; Is. 6:13)."[13]

The Believer’s Bible Commentary states:

"The woman’s Seed would crush the Devil’s head, a mortal wound spelling utter defeat. This wound was administered at Calvary when the Savior decisively triumphed over the Devil. Satan, in turn, would bruise the Messiah’s heel. The heel wound here speaks of suffering and even of physical death, but not of ultimate defeat. So Christ suffered on the cross, and even died, but He arose from the dead, victorious over sin, hell, and Satan. The fact that He is called the woman’s Seed may contain a suggestion of His virgin birth. Note the kindness of God in promising the Messiah before pronouncing sentence in the following verses."  [14]

Indeed, even in punishment we detect God’s love.  In his providence God planned a way to graft the sin-severed branches back to himself through His Son (the divine Vine). 

            My own life-journey has been marked by great blessing and love, as well as great sin, rebellion, sorrow and disobedience. Still, God has not forsaken me -- a prodigal son.  As I draw nearer the end of my life, God sends vivid visitations of joy, reminiscent of my life’s beginning.




[1] See Romans 5:12
[2] Some Scripture versions such as the Protestant  New International Version use “Good and evil”. Others such as the Catholic New American Bible use “Good and bad.”
[3] For other references to Satan as a serpent see Rev. 12.14-15, 20.2.  Throughout history, Satan has been a force to be taken seriously.
[4] Gen. 1.29-30.
[5] Gen. 2.15
[6] 2.17
[7]1.28
[8] Genesis 3.1-7.
[9] Verse 12.
[10] New American Bible: The Catholic Study Bible, (Oxford University Press, New York) 1990.
[11] Nelson’s Ultimate Bible Reference CD-ROM, eBible Study Library, (Thomas Nelson Electronic Publishing Inc., Nashville, TN) 2003.
[12]Henry, M. 1996, c1991. Matthew Henry's commentary on the whole Bible : Complete and unabridged in one volume . Hendrickson: Peabody
[13]Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. 1999. Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary . T. Nelson Publishers: Nashville
[14]MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. 1997, c1995. Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments . Thomas Nelson: Nashville. 

Sunday, August 16, 2015

WRITER SAYS 3 PERCENT PLANNED PARENTHOOD CLAIM "THE MOST USELESS ABORTION STATISTIC"

http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2015/august/federal-officials-warn-states-not-to-defund-planned-parenth.html


"Planned Parenthood claims that only 3 percent of its services are abortion-related. A story by Rachael Larimore, a writer for Slate.com, labeled that claim as “the most meaningless abortion statistic ever.” Most women who have abortions at Planned Parenthood also have other related services at the same time.
Overall, Larimore pointed out, about a third of Planned Parenthood’s income comes from abortion." -- Taken from The GalliReport, Christianity Today, at link above.

Saturday, August 15, 2015

THE PRIMORDIAL NATURE OF JOY

The most infuriatingly sublime aspect about Joy is that it can
not be controlled or harnessed.  It can not be summoned by an act of will. True Joy simply occurs at the most unexpected moments; then it vanishes, like a wisp of smoke.  It is more fleeting than infancy.

I do not think God originally intended Joy to be fleeting. There
is good reason to believe God wanted it to be a constant state for humanity in constant communion with Him. The Garden of Eden was a place for sublime Joy. Bliss. Ecstasy. The loss of constant and complete Joy from the human condition was a consequence of the Fall.

Joy is a byproduct being close to God.  Joy reflects something of His divine character. Joy increases in frequency the closer we draw to God. Conversely, Joy fades the further away we move from God.

 I’m continually struck by the tenderness of the account of creation in the book of Genesis.  God created the heavens and the earth: Out of chaos He made a universe of order. Out of formlessness, emptiness and darkness, God brought light, structure, and substance (Genesis 1.1-14).  

The world teemed with plant and animal life (verse 20-24).
God declared it all to be good (verse 9 &12b, 18, 21b, 25b). Not only did God see that His creation was good, He blessed it (verse 22). Into this good and blessed environment God created humanity (in His own image) as the climax of His creativity (Verses 26-27).  Once this was accomplished, God looked at his creation said it was very good (Verse 30).[1]  Genesis tells us that God placed Adam in a garden in the eastern part of Eden with every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.[2]

Eden was ideal for nurturing joy. Man was saturated with the most important ingredients and sources of all true Joy: an intimate love-relationship with God, a sense of belonging, and a divinely appointed purpose (to tend the Garden). The Fall ruined the state of complete and continual Joy. 

C. S. Lewis said “Joy is the serious business of heaven” ─ and so it is.  To be in the presence of God is the ultimate Joy or the ultimate terror, depending upon what we do with the question of sin and how we respond to the second figure in the Triune God: Jesus Christ.

Centuries after the Garden of Eden, Jesus referred to joy being complete:

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.  As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My commandment is this: Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15.5-12)

Whereas the first Adam brought death, Christ is the “last
Adam” who brings life.[3]  Christ brings life to people dead in sin. He reveals the true meaning of love and restores joy. Jesus himself tells us about how to make joy complete once again.  Granted it is not like the pre-Fall Joy of Eden because Original Sin cut the clarity of the earth-joy connection. But real joy comes still comes from God. Real joy flows through Christ, like nutrients moving through branches. 

Notice that Christ’s imagery is so fitting with creation and nature: Vines and branches and men bearing fruit.  Fruitful lives bring glory to God. Again, we find ingredients and sources of all true Joy: they are an intimate love-relationship with God, a sense of belonging, and a divinely appointed purpose.


 This is only possible when people are intimately connected with the Vine, which is Christ.  Without this spiritual connection we can do nothing that brings glory to God. The Father’s Love was in His Son and his Son’s love is in His followers—the “children of God.” Saint John put it this way.

“But to those who did accept him [Christ] he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by man’s decision but of God.  And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1.12-14)

John’s language shifts to that of a family and adoption,
through the personal choice of faith.  This biblical passage taken from the first chapter of the Gospel of John begins with the same words that start the book of Genesis: “In the beginning”.  The same source of divine love that created all life (so powerfully described in the first chapters of Genesis) is the same redemptive Grace behind Christ’s Incarnation. This love is behind its creative act of man’s spiritual regeneration “to those who believe in his name”. It is so movingly described in the first eighteen verses of John 1, and ending in a forceful affirmation of Jesus’ deity.




[1] The New International Version Study Bible (Zondervan, 1985), footnote to Genesis 1.1 addresses this tenderness and joy:  “The truth of this majestic verse was joyfully affirmed by poet (Ps. 102.25) and prophet (Isa 40.21). …The positive, life-oriented teaching of v.1 is beautifully summarized in Isa 45.18.”
[2]In Genesis 2.9, we are told the tree of Life was in the midst of the garden as was the tree of knowledge of good and evil. 
[3]Romans 5.12, 1Corinthians 15.21-22 & 45, (cf . Genesis 3.23 & Revelation 22.14.) 

[Click on image below or https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Xc7aFDppCgY, Bach Mass in B minor, Karl Richter (Sanctus), 6:39]

Thursday, August 13, 2015

MY WONDERFUL WORLD WATCHING OTHERS GROW AND EXCEL

I have two grandsons. Both are involved with television. Yesterday was hectic. Both were at different television productions miles apart. My wife drove one to his set while my daughter took my other grandson to be in a commercial for a food company. He was supposed to be playing street hockey when he gets hungry. It didn't take any acting for him. He's a typical Canadian boy who loves street hockey. He had fun and got paid for it.  


Grandson Graham
As I've said previously, I am surrounded by creative family including youngest grandson Graham (9). He is an animated child. We call him GraHAM. He has a very expressive face and even at such a young age he knows how to play to a television camera. 

I have two joys in my life: My God and my family. I love watching my wife, children and grandchildren grow and excel. 

So much of my life has been spent espousing the right of all children to be born, grow, excel and become what they were created to be. I want everyone to experience our wonderful world.

[Click on image below or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RstOpZi54L8, Rod Stewart singing Wonderful World.




WASHINGTON POST GIVE 3 PINOCCHIOS TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD 3% ABORTIONS

The Washington Post gave three Pinocchios to Planned Parenthood's assertion that abortion only represents 3 percent of their services. National Right To Life (Washington DC) gives an analysis and link. See  
http://www.nationalrighttolifenews.org/news/2015/08/washington-post-fact-checker-gives-three-pinocchios-to-planned-parenthoods-3-assertion/#.VcyrMjP4DzB

Sunday, August 9, 2015

NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER INCLUDES MY BLOG POST FOR "BEST CATHOLIC BLOGGING"

I came across a pleasant surprise. The National Catholic Register: America's Most Complete Catholic News Service, has a sectioned called "The Best In Catholic blogging" by Tito Edwards, Their online edition for August 2nd 2015 included A blog post of mine originally published July 12th on the HumanLifeMatters' blog under the title "Complete Abandon To Christ and the Purpose of Our Existence". 

The U.S. online publication Catholic Lane re-published it on July 17th. That was where The National Catholic Register noticed it and included the piece as #10 in their top 12 Best Catholic Blogs. To see click below. 

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/an-artist-moves-to-florence-and-becomes-a-convert-the-necessary-virtue-of-h/

Mark

Friday, August 7, 2015

PRO-LIFE VOTER PROTEST IN A GENERAL ELECTION

As we move toward a general election in Canada, the options are
morally bankrupt egotist Justin Trudeau
limited indeed. The Liberals under leader Justin Trudeau are a radical pro-abortion party. Trudeau has said that any person wanting to run for Parliament under the Liberal banner must be "pro-choice" for a woman's freedom to kill her unborn child. That eliminates devout Catholics and most evangelical Christians. At the other end of the life-spectrum, in February of 2013, the Liberal Party adopted an official party policy favouring assisted suicide. 



NDP leader Thomas Mulcair
Unrestricted abortion & assisted suicide
The New Democratic Party (NDP), the socialist option, has long been in favour of abortion and assisted suicide. Prominent NDP, and MP for Halifax, Megan Leslie, has gone so far as to  assert that assisted suicide is a legitimate part of palliative care. 
Conservative Prime Minister
Stephen Harper 


The Conservatives are the closest to a party worth supporting, but even they far short. Prime Minister Harper refuses to reopen the abortion issue: the killing continues across Canada at taxpayer expense. 


In February of 2015, the Canadian Supreme Court struck down Canada's laws against assisted suicide and gave Parliament 52 weeks to get with the times and put legislation in place to allow assisted suicide for sick, disabled or depressed Canadians. The Prime Minister could invoke the constitutional "Not withstanding clause", but it has rarely been used and his track record indicates he will not use it -- even on something so crucial to protecting vulnerable people and the sanctity of human life.

What is an incurably ill and disabled Canadian (like me) who believes in the sanctity of human life to do? I believe that universal human rights applies to all humanity. That's what the word universal means.

I believe in equal protection of all human life. If healthy and
disabled suicidal people get suicide prevention counselling and care (as they should) then the same should apply to suicidal disabled, sick and depressed people. 

Is there any leader who will stand up for equality, care and protection of all Canadian human life? Is there any person who will not cower and cave under the glaring spotlights of the mainstream media so committed to the prevailing culture of death, under the guise of "choice"? I hope so but fear not. What then shall I do?

Well, first and foremost, I am a Christian. My loyalty rests with the Lord of Life,[1] not any Party for death, or is willing to stand idly by while vulnerable human life is snuffed out.  

I will humbly bow before God rather than snap to attention before any politician or political party. If the laws of my nation are contrary to the Word of God, then I choose to align myself with God's Word, the laws of nature and nature's God. My real citizenship is in the kingdom of heaven before my temporal Canadian citizenship.

If no candidate will resolutely stand for the natural dignity and
worth of every human life, what should I do? I would rather spoil my ballot on voting day by writing "No pro-Life candidate" across it, take a picture with my i-phone and post online and Tweet to all party leaders, and media. (If masses of voters did this, imagine the message it would send!). The other option would be to refuse my ballot and ask that my reason be recorded. 

If candidates for Member of Parliament in my constituency will not stand unequivocally for the care and protection of all human life, even in the face of withering party discipline, then he/she is unfit for public office, regardless of what else they stand for. 

To whom much is given much is required.[2]

Mark 
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[1] John 1.4.
[2] Luke 12.48.