This blog deals with
Christian living, disability, ethics,
Life Issues, a wonderful miracle,
and faith in Jesus Christ.
“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
I have had aggressive multiple sclerosis (MS) for over 32 years. It has left me completely electric wheelchair dependent and living on a modest disability pension. I ask readers of the HumanLifeMatters blog to help me purchase a new wheelchair accessible van. To make a van accessible doubles the cost of a van. The van floor must be lowered, suspension revamped, ramp installed, considerable electrical changes, plus other adaptations. The cost is $77,000. The van will not only improve my quality of life but help me to continue to speak out against the perils of euthanasia and assisted suicide. It will help me to spread a pro-Life message of life with dignity for people with severe disabilities and incurably illnesses. Donations can be made to my GoFundMe account at https://www.gofundme.com/2rnxyktc or send by interac e-transfer to my wife at laree@shaw.ca with "Wheelchair van" in the subject line. Thank you for helping me reach this goal. Mark
Fifteen years ago I said I would refuse any stem cell therapy for MS that involved embryonic sources. Why? Because it would have involved the destruction of another human being in embryonic form. It was considered bizarre by many people. "Don't you want to walk again?" they would ask. Of course, I would love to be restored to my former self -- to swim, ski, bicycle with grandchildren, to dance with my wife -- but not at the cost of another life. I wrote a number of articles for publications like Canada's National Post newspaper repudiating the moral corruption of embryonic stem cell research or therapies.Radio and television stations called for interviews. Even the Washington Times called. That time proved to be a defining point for me. Would I succumb to the temptation of being delivered from a horrible disease that was destroying me if it required killing another human being? Granted, it would have been tempting if a restorative cure had been developed for MS using embryonic sources. Sadly I would have to turn away from it. I could not accept it. Some principles rise above self-interests.
I've spent most of my adult life espousing human rights -- the highest of which is the universal right to life for every human being from conception to natural death. It is a moral absolute that I could not abandon even for my own benefit.
Now, 15 years later, it seems all the promise of treatments and cure for diseases like MS using embryonic sources did not deliver the promise while other stem cells have been developed. I was saved from a diabolical temptation for personal gain at the cost of someone else's life. See article below. Some principles rise above political gain. President Bush was right. It's doubtful that mainstream media like the New York Times and CNN, who were so enthusiastic to tout the promises of embryonic stem cell research 15 years ago, will not go back now to report its failure.
The engine of survival for any healthy society lies in interdependence not in personal autonomy. (Unfettered person autonomy is highly prized by "progressives".) Personal autonomy feeds abortion clinics and assisted suicide. Personal autonomy is a human poverty disguised as 21st century virtue; we must move away from it and toward an interdependence that embraces human vulnerability and ennobles caregiving. Real human purpose is found in 'we' not 'me', in giving rather than getting. Cherish each other or perish alone.
And now, I want to present a video of the Venerable Fulton Sheen's teaching on the Devil (courtesy of Youtube). Bishop Sheen died 37 years ago in 1979, yet his words are poignant today as when they were uttered. Click on the image below or this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuCw8UT5y6c
David Mainse prays with Billy Graham
on 100 Huntley Street (late 1970s?)
David Mainse is a well known Canadian Christian television personality. He is the founder of Crossroads Christian communications with its flag ship television daily Christian talk show 100 Huntley Street. For over 50 years David has brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the nation. Crossroads has expanded its ministries beyond television and today its work reaches around the Globe.[1]
My association with David goes back to mid-1990s. I appeared a number of times on 100 Huntley Street. Crossroads produced a documentary about my life for their series Stories of Our Becoming.
Cover for the video
To Be, Or Not To Be
-- the Human Family"
David Mainse was instrumental in the realization and production of a half hour TV feature about assisted suicide and disability that I wrote and narrated (2001). It was called "To Be, or not to be -- the Human Family: A disabled man's plea". I wrote it because I could see that North America was headed in that direction. We produced a Canadian version and an American version. My daughter was the producer and David was Executive Producer. It was aired across North America numerous times on religious programming with cable networks, Crossroads and EWTN. In fact, I was at the Crossroads studios in Burlington Ontario for another 100 Huntley Street the day David made his announcement he was going to retire and pass the mantle to his son Ron. The building's chapel was full as we watched David place his hands on Ron and pray his blessing. A new phase of ministry began and I was there to witness the event.
Norma Jean and David Mainse
celebrate their 58th wedding
anniversary
David is an old man now -- much loved by his wife, family and the nation. He and his wife Norma Jean recently celebrate their 58th wedding anniversary and his son Ron shared a photograph of that occasion. Until we are in heaven, we will not know how many thousand upon thousands of people David Mainse led to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ over the years.
In Jesus' parable of the rich man and Lazarus we read:
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham.* The rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.*24He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.” 25But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.” 27He said, “Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— 28for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.” 29Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.” 30He said, “No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” 31He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” -- Luke 17.19-30
From Jesus words, three observations come immediately to my mind. Firstly, behaviour on this side of the grave has a direct impact on consequences on the other side of the grave. Secondly, there is a place of torment that involves flames and another place of great peace and joy. Thirdly, and perhaps most revealingly, we are also told that some people will refuse to believe the truth of the Scriptures, or Christ, even in the face of something as dramatic as a resurrection from the dead! This became abundantly clear a short time after Jesus said these words, with his own resurrection. People still refused to believe.
We should also remember that after Jesus raised a different Lazarus from the dead, religious leaders plotted to kill him again (John 12.11-12). Some people are so opposed to the truth of Christ that they will even corrupt evidence instead of accepting and internalizing it. Why is that?
They will exchange the truth for a lie, self-glorification over glorifying God and love the created more rather than the Creator. (Cf. Romans 1.21-32, Jeremiah 2.5.) Christ offers his free gift of salvation but following him costs something. That something is everything. Christ calls a rebellious generation to lay down their rebellion and surrender their whole being to Him. That means to love God with all their heart, soul and mind, and their neighbour with as fervent a love as they have for themselves (Matthew 22.37-39, cf. Deuteronomy 6.5, 10.12, 30.6.) For most people it's too much. Perhaps this has something to do with the narrow gate that leads to life and few are on it yet the broad way that leads to destruction has many. (Matthew 7.13-14) The cost to follow Christ is simply too dear. He calls people from undeveloped spiritual vagueness to become wholly holy ... to emerge squinting from spiritual darkness into Christ's intense light -- revealing and perfecting. Perfecting invariably involves pain. (See Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), 1430-1431.) To follow Christ requires a change of mind, heart and morals (cf. CCC,368.) It requires a shift from self-centeredness to other-centeredness. People's lifestyles, status, possessions, addictions, or other worldliness may be too important to them. They want a new set of values to accommodate those things.
Venerable Fulton Sheen
(1895-1979)
Fulton Sheen wrote about the human desire to adopt new ethical systems, "...the tailoring of new standards of "morals" to suit our immoral ways of living." They want a creed that suits their behaviour and deeds and demands little from them. I am increasing convinced that most people do not have an intellectual problem with God, they have a moral problem with God. It's not that they can't believe in God, their will is stubborn and they won't believe in God. They want God on their terms not His terms. It can't be that way. God is perfect but humanity is deeply flawed and sinful. To ask a perfect God of love (1John 4.8) to be content with humanity's imperfections of evil and not desire their removal, is to ask God not to be God. He was prepared to go to drastic lengths to make provision to reconcile sinful humanity back to himself for eternity (See John 3.16, 1John 2.1-2, 4.8-10. Also CCC, 976-987, 1422-1456) Perhaps someone will say, "But I want God to accept me just the way I am." He will. That is what Calvary was all about. But that perfect God is the very essence of love and won't leave the imperfections unattended. They must be removed from the beloved to become more Christ-like. That is spiritual pilgrimage. Perhaps someone else will comment, "I just want God to leave me alone." If that's what is really wanted, God will do that too. That's leads to Hell. It is not God's desire that anyone would be lost (cf. Ezekiel 33.11, John 3.16, 1Timothy 2.3-5, 2Peter 3.9.) But God sets the terms of his heaven and salvation. Salvation that leads to God comes exclusively through faith in Jesus Christ (John 14.6, Acts 4.12). There is someone who rose from the dead: It is Jesus Christ. There are millions of people are here who have encountered him: It is Jesus Christ. There is no need for anyone to live in present or future torment without Him. His Church can help to point the way to love the Lord your God with all our hearts, souls and our minds, and to love others as ourselves. [Click on image below or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPgKcAAvwSU Video: the parable of the rich man and Lazarus]
The imagery is of a future
time of universal peace.
There is an innate longing
deep within the human heart for peace and harmony. Until Christ comes again to
establish the Kingdom of God on earth, it will not be. But until then, He offers
his followers internal peace that passes human understanding (see Philippians
4. 6-7). That peace has a transformative quality that can change even devilish people
into saints. History is replete with
examples.
Prior to his ascension
into heaven, Jesus told his disciples, “I am leaving you with a gift ― peace of
mind and heart! And the peace I give you isn’t fragile like the peace the world
gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you ― I am going
away, but I will come back to you again.” (John 14.27-28.) The same peace is
available to you and me.
Christ’s peace is not a peace given by the world. As
Pope Benedict so concisely stated in his book The Infancy Narratives: Jesus of Nazareth (2012): “The peace of
Jesus is a peace that the world cannot give. Ultimately the question here is
what redemption, liberation and salvation actually mean.” The world cannot give this peace because it
does not understand it; it is a spiritual currency that the broken-hearted and
contrite understand.
Without Christ, the
longing for internal peace is either illusive or counterfeit. Jesus is the author of all we know and all
that is unknown (see John 1.1-5 & 12-18). Do not discount this important
truth. It is important because even when our world seems to be falling apart we
can still have peace in Christ and salvation.
His peace is rooted in forgiveness and deliverance from our sins through
his sacrificial offering on the cross (see Colossians 1.12-20).
The absence of Christ’s
peace can (and does) turn gentle souls into cynical, stone hearted people. The
world’s cruelty can sear individual and even collective human consciences. We see this in such things as abortion, child
and elder abuse, euthanasia, assisted suicide and pornography that is
increasingly common as society turns away from Christ and his teachings.
Despite this, and in the
midst of human violence and spiritual corruption, Christ still offers his peace
to all who come to know Him. This peace that passes human understanding was
made evident to me, even in the storms of life and the terrors of degenerative
disability ― especially during the terrors of degeneration! I have found peace
of mind and heart, just as Jesus promised. The darker my physical reality becomes the
more evident and certain the light of Christ becomes.
There have been times when
my disease threatened to engulf me; my prayerful cries were met with a deep
peace that overtook the fear. I cannot explain it logically. An inaudible but
real message of assurance “Be not afraid, I am with you” descended upon me to over-take
the raging flames of terror. I have
written about this before.
Jesus referred to the Holy
Spirit as the Counselor. The Holy
Spirit’s counsel is continually pointing us to the truth of Christ as the way
of eternal life. Saint Paul called the Holy Spirit the “Spirit of Christ”
(Romans 8.9, Galatians 4.6, Philippians 1.19).It is the spirit of Christ that gives us peace.
Christ ha been the source of
peace not only in the here and now but year after year, decade after decade, century after century, throughout the ages.
The heavenly host that announced the Messiah’s birth
said, “Glory be to God in the highest and on earth peace to those whom his
favour rests.” Again, Pope Benedict commented on this passage found in the
second Chapter of Luke: “”God’s glory” is not something brought about by men
(Glory be to God). The “glory” of God
is real, God is glorious, and this is truly a reason for joy: there is truth, there is goodness, there is
beauty. It is there―in God― indestructibly.” (The Infancy Narratives, p.74.)The glory of God that angels sung about at Christ’s birth is still
available to us.
Christ’s peace is glorious
and good and true. It brings joy and hope.My disease and deteriorating health cannot alter any of this. There is
nothing that happens to me in this world that can rob me of the eternal hope
that is within me.
On October 1st, I will be in Irondale, Alabama to appear on EWTN's television show AT HOME WITH JIM & JOY PINTO. We are to discuss my work with HumanLifeMatters. Originally, HumanLifeMatters was incorporated as a provincial society in the Canadian province of Alberta as an organization dedicated to promotion of evangelical and Catholic disability awareness and barrier free church buildings. When I started HumanLifeMatters, I was a Baptist. My board was entirely evangelical although I actively searched for Catholic members. My conversion to Catholicism (2004) was like a bomb exploded. The board resigned en masse, funding from a large Baptist church severed -- everything was gutted. Evangelical and Catholic cooperation with disability issues was fine on paper but not in practice. Perhaps it was just as well. HumanLifeMatters' original structure was grounded on an unstated ad unstable anti-Catholic bias. As its founder, I would have to eventually confront and remove this prejudice. It could not be tolerated.
Me speaking at a fundraising
banquet for Mother Teresa House
for the terminally ill,
Lansing, Michigan
When the smoke cleared, only I was left. God's blessing on the HumanLifeMatters ministry continued and increased. Invitations came in from across North America to speak on Life issues, conduct disability awareness workshops for churches, and medical groups and hospitals. I was invited to address government legislative committees considering euthanasia legislation. Pro-Life groups and churches across Canada and America asked me to speak and educate them about responses to anti-life issues and disability inclusion. I started the HumanLifeMatters blog. As you can see, there have been hundreds of thousands of visitors. Although HumanLifeMatters receives no funding from any source, my work under the HumanLifeMatters banner has been spiritually fruitful despite successive setbacks.
Addressing the 2016 Adult & Family Rally
and Mass for Life, St. Matthew the
Apostle Cathedral, Archdiocese of
Washington, DC
Canada has legalized medical killing of sick and disabled people.
California, Oregon, Vermont and the state of Washington have legalized euthanasia. It seems disability is viewed as worse that death. And so the work of HumanLifeMatters is more important than ever. To present hope found in Christ, to encourage those who desire to support people with serious disabilities and their families, to lobby for the rescinding of laws that permit the taking of life at any state or stage in the spectrum of human life from conception to natural death, to search for life with dignity, has become critical at this perilous juncture in time.
Speaking in the Archdiocese
of Edmonton about perils of
Canada's new euthanasia regime
I am incurably ill and disabled with multiple sclerosis, but as long as my health holds up, this will be my calling because Human Life Matters. Should others wish to help in such a mammoth task, their contributions and energies are always welcome. And so I head to Alabama at the end of September to appear on EWTN's show At Home with Jim & Joy. Please pray for journey mercies to come my way. You can see my interview on At Home with Jim & Joy, Monday October 1st 2016, at 12:00pm, Saturday October 8th at 8:30 and 11:00pm. Mark
An unforgiving spirit is corrosive to the soul.
It can affect our relationships with others and how others relate to us. An
unforgiving spirit darkens how we see the world and can even distort
perceptions of reality. But most damaging of all, an unforgiving spirit affects
human relationships with God.
When Jesus gave us his model prayer, he includes
the phrase “And forgive us our debts and we forgive our debtors.” At the end of
it, Jesus gave further explanation saying, “If you forgive others their
transgressions, your heavenly father will forgive you. But if you do not
forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” (Matthew
6.14-15) A commentary in the CATHOLIC STUDY BIBLE (Oxford University Press) explains
that the word debts is used metaphorically for sins, “debts” owed to God.
Later in the Book of Matthew, Jesus was
speaking to the disciples about sins of one person against another.Peter asked, “Lord, if my brother sins
against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven
times but seventy-seven times.” (See Matthew 18.21-22). I have often wondered why Peter picked seven
for the limit to forgiveness?Apparently
it is found in some older commentaries state that rabbis established that if an
offender asked for forgiveness three times in the presence of witness he had to
be forgiven. Perhaps Peter picked seven
as the perfect but limited number. Jesus’ answer was not merely a play on
sevens or saying if someone sins against you or me seventy-eight times we need
not forgive them for the last one.
A footnote in my Catholic Study Bible attached
to this passage says that the seventy-seven times corresponds to Genenis 4.24
where Lamech boasts his extreme and limitless vengeance. Jesus reversed
Lamech’s ancient, obscene and perversely proud boast, to demand of his
disciples limitless forgiveness. Then
Jesus went on to tell the parable of the unforgiving servant who was forgiven a
large debt but refused to forgive others’ lesser debts. In the parable, when the master discovers this
he is enraged.Jesus concludes his
parable: “And his master was angry, and delivered him [the servant] to the
torturer until he should pay back all that was due him. So my heavenly Father
also will do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”
Forgiveness is an essential ingredient to being
forgiven. We see a couple of dynamics in
this parable: There is great absurdity for a Christian who has been forgiven so
much to withhold forgiveness from others. The Father’s forgiveness already
granted may be reinstated if we do not forgive others.We read again in the gospel of Mark, Jesus
deals with the connection between receiving forgiveness and being forgiven, in
context of prayer:
“When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against
whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you
your transgressions.” (Mark 11:25-26)
The forgiveness we receive from God is
dependent on the forgiveness we give to people. It is a spiritual maxim that
Christ did not want us to miss. So why do so many Christians miss it, including
me? We hold grudges and savour them like a candy we roll around in our mouths.
The damage we do to our own spirit in sweet bitterness exceeds the damage we
wish or imagine for the other party. Begrudging
Christians should hang their heads to consider how often they expect God to
forgive their sins (often the same sin committed time and time again).
There is a reciprocal aspect to Christianity.
Yes, it is true that Jesus died for all and that God’s forgiveness is freely
attained through faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice at Calvary.The free gift of salvation is only free to
those who will accept it through faith and repentance. A gift must be accepted and opened. The gift
is the Truth of Jesus Christ.
The reciprocal part of forgiveness is forgiving.
In as much as possible, God wants us to live in peace with others. We are
called to greater heights that must not be weighed down by an unforgiving
spirit or holding grudges. This is particularly true within the great family of
Christians.Just prior to his Passion,
Christ said, “As I have loved you, so you should love one another. This is how
all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Love for one another is a great witness to a world where wrongs are settled
with violence and contempt. We are to love one another. Forgiveness is
essential.
If Jesus could ask forgiveness for the people
who were crucifying him, then surely we as his followers can forgive those who
hurt us!
I have had aggressive multiple sclerosis (MS) for over 32 years. It has left me completely electric wheelchair dependent and living on a modest disability pension. I ask readers of the HumanLifeMatters blog to help me purchase a new wheelchair accessible van. To make a van accessible doubles the cost of a van. The van floor must be lowered, suspension revamped, ramp installed, considerable electrical changes, plus other adaptations. The cost is $77,000.
