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
Thursday, December 19, 2019
TOWARD INCLUSION THIS CHRISTMAS—AND BEYOND
I came across this photo of Santa interacting with an autistic child. It nearly brought me to tears. For most of my adult life, I have worked for inclusion—particularly as it relates to chronically ill people, those with disabilities, and women in crisis pregnancies.
Inclusion! It just happens. It happens in small ways and small gestures that may seem insignificant yet make significant differences in the daily lives of people. Disability inclusion doesn't happen because of government programs (as helpful as they may be), legislation, or fashionable "progressive" thinking at any point in time. Real inclusion begins in the hearts of ordinary people. It is expressed in their places of work, their schools, their churches and neighbourhoods in cities, towns and villages all across the nation. Inclusion opens doors that were previously closed to relationships. Inclusion is interactive and changes a noun into a verb.
Inclusion embraces every member of the human family—born and unborn, the very old and the very young, every ethnicity, the abled and the disabled, the poorest and the rich, the addict, the homeless, the deranged, and those who are not even loved by anybody. Inclusive communities are life-affirming, never life-denying. They do not kill each other. There is no place for abortion, assisted suicide or euthanasia in truly inclusive communities. Inclusion involves a nurturing of minds and spirits of people. It cares. Authentic inclusion encourages people to rise to their full potential that God intended for them. Inclusion begins in the womb and ends at the tomb. It involves every stage and state of life between those two points. Inclusion is what it means to be PRO-LIFE.
MDP
Friday, December 6, 2019
TRANSGENDER INSANITY
National Organization For Marriage, based in Washington, DC. You can read Mr. Brown's letter below. I urge readers of this blog to support the National Organization for Marriage in their critically important work. You can contact them here:
National Organization for Marriage
2029 K Street,
Washington, DC,
U.S.A., 20006
Telephone: (888) 894-3604
email: contact@nationformarriage.org
(NB: This post may result in Google suspending the HumanLifeMatters blog account.)
Dear Friend—A couple of years ago the liberal government of Canada under Justin Trudeau passed a law enacting the LGBT extremist gender ideology agenda that is having disastrous consequences. Bill C-16 adds “gender identity” and “gender expression” to Canada’s Human Right Code. This, in part, is effectively what the grossly misnamed Equality Act pending in Congress would do here in the United States.
Of course, the entire idea of “gender identity” is a made-up concept that does not exist in the real world in which we live. It’s a creature of the elites who have been seeking to impose it through indoctrination, intimidation and political correctness. In the real world, we live by a set of immutable rules that help define our physical reality – there’s a thing called gravity, the body requires food and water to survive, we must breathe to oxygenate ourselves, etc. One of those immutable rules in the real world is that each of us are born either male or female. Our sex is a biological reality that cannot be changed by identity, expression, desire or feelings.
Despite the utter incongruity of the concept of gender “identity,” the movement to impose it is powerful, well-connected and influential. Many people who disagree with it are not interested in publicly talking about the issue for fear of being labeled a hater. So, they quietly roll their eyes, go about their business and hope that it won’t affect them.
One group of people in Canada has quickly figured out how they can game the system and use the insanity of “gender identity” to serve their own interests. Male prisoners. Men in prison have caught on that the law allows them to declare a female gender “identity” and then assert their right to be housed in an all-women prison facility. That’s what many of them have done. And some of them are the worst criminals around – child rapists, murderers and sexual predators.
The reason the men are doing this is obvious: they want to force themselves upon the women inmates. And that’s exactly what they’ve been doing. A Canadian prison advocate recently told a media reporter, “They currently have three ‘trans’ inmates [at Grand Valley Institute (GVI) in Ontario], and I use the term 'trans' loosely here because they are openly telling the other female inmates they are not really trans. They are only at GVI to have sex with the females.”
Sadly, the response to this situation by prison authorities reflects the enormous influence that the LGBT community exerts over liberal institutions of government. The GVI Warden reportedly told the female inmates that those who have a problem with the situation “could go to psychology.” Prison advocates report that medical staff distribute the morning-after abortion pill to female inmates.
It’s understandable that some people may want to just keep their head down when it comes to challenging the advent of gender ideology, but that will only make things worse. Before long, the ability of men to force themselves on girls and women will be happening in every facet of society – schools, hospitals and medical clinics, intimate facilities such as showers and spas, development programs for girls, etc. We are already experiencing the beginning of this trend.
Even worse, if we don’t fight now while we can, this situation won’t be a trend, it will be federal law. The Equality Act (which we call the InEquality Act because of the one-sided way by which it imposes the LGBT agenda) has already passed the US House of Representatives. Every Democrat in the US Senate supports it (as does at least one Republican), and every candidate for president has endorsed it.
You can be sure of this: if the Democrats win the presidency and take over Congress, they will find a way to impose gender ideology on the American people. Having men worm their way into female prisons will be the least of our concerns then.
NOM is fighting hard to alert the American people to the dangers of gender ideology and the many problems that would be created if the InEquality Act becomes law. We’ve produced many communications about this issue and generated tens of thousands of grassroots contacts with members of Congress to oppose this agenda. But still, the legislation is pending in the Senate and could come up at any time... .
... It’s a crazy world that we live in these days where insane concepts like “gender identity” are taken seriously and advance at a rapid pace. But we can exert great influence and reverse this course if we all work together and have the courage to stand up and be counted.
Thanks for standing with us on this critical issue.
Faithfully,
Brian S. Brown
President
Thursday, November 28, 2019
CANADIAN VALUES?
I keep hearing about Canadian values after dispensing what we used to refer as community standards which were loosely based upon a previous Judaeo-Christian moral consensus. What are Canadian values? Nobody has clearly defined these celebrated new Canadian values other than syrupy references to embracing differences (everybody is embracing now), a spirit for celebrating and funding everything multi-cultural (except our British heritage).
I know Canadian values include unfettered abortion for any reason
at all or no reason whatsoever, all paid by government. I know Canadian values want to bar pro-Life citizens from seeking elected public office in Canada's parliament. I know that new Canadian values jailed Linda Gibbons for more time than many armed robbers. Her high crime? Daring to pray outside abortion clinics, within a pro-choice court ordered injunction, and offering women in crisis pregnancies life-affirming help for themselves and their babies. I know Canadian values include lethal injections for the terminally and incurably ill who become suicidal. (We refer to it by the innocuously deceptive euphemism "medically assistance in dying." Lethal injections are more accurately called medical killing or euthanasia). I know that new Canadian values are generally anti-Christian, ambivalent to anti-traditional marriage, and apparently we have about sixty different genders from which people can choose to become.
I know that people who embrace our new Canadian values re-
elected a Prime Minister whose government has tons of money for everyone else (see chart to the right), will pay $10.5 million to a convicted terrorist, but apparently does not have enough money to properly care for our veterans and seniors.
I don't fit very well in 21st Century Canada (and I don't want to). I prefer to live on the fringes of the brutal and Brave New World that's part of Canadian values. It's a bit too sinister for me. I suppose that may be one reason why the HumanLifeMatters blog is losing Canadian readers. — Mark
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
THANKSGIVING THOUGHTS REMEMBERED
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING BILL 207
Att.2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:(a) freedom of conscience and religion;(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;(c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and(d) freedom of association.Bill 207 seeks to ensure that physicians are not compelled to refer patients for abortion or euthanasia. It rightly presumes that “expression” includes actions and behaviour and not just verbal expression. Bill 207 simply gives Christian and Muslim doctors peace of mind that they will not be compelled to refer patients for MAID (euthanasia) in future by a changed policy of the Alberta Medical Association, The Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons or any other regulatory body.As an Albertan with a serious, degenerative disease of multiple sclerosis, I want to be able to choose my physician who does not ascribe to, or support euthanasia. For your information, I have attached a copy of a letter I gave to my physician prior to Canada enacting its Medical Assistance In Dying legislation in 2016. The name of the physician has been removed so not to identify him/her.Feel free to share this email and attachment with the committee examining bill 207.Sincerely,Mark Davis PickupBeaumont, Alberta
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
ALBERTA'S BILL 207 AND CONSCIENCE RIGHTS
Sunday, November 17, 2019
WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO HEAL OUR NATIONS?
The article above reports that a bill has been introduced into the Ohio state legislature that would ban abortions and declare unborn babies human beings under law.
Could this mark the beginning of society reclaiming the right to call itself civilized? Does this bill represent the first inkling of a change in cultural mindset in how the youngest members of the human community are considered? Could this bill codify—at least in one U.S. state—what we knew in our hearts all along? We all know in our heart of hearts (even if we won't admit it) that the unborn child is a human being, deserving our protection, love and care, and to be valued as an indispensable part of the human family.
These are questions that spark hope in my breast that the holocaust of abortion will end in the not so distant future in America. What about Canada? I fear my nation may be a lost cause for embracing the right to life as the first and highest right. All abortions (and now lethal injections of the sick and dying) are all fully funded with tax dollars.
I am reminded of something one of America's Founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, said: "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever." If America tempted God's justice over slavery, how much more does America (and Canada) offend Divine justice with the systematic murder of more than 60 million children before birth!
Perhaps Ohio is leading the way for a national repentance for the
evil of abortion, that may yet stay God's hand of justice. Dare I pray for the same change of heart for my secular nation of Canada?
Monday, November 11, 2019
REMEMBRANCE DAY AND OUR DYING CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATION
School children rose from their desks to stand for two minutes silence in memory of soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in
two World Wars. We Canadian children stood tight-lipped and gazed at the Red Ensign flag at the front of the classroom. Every creak, children shuffling, even slight noises from the school’s ventilation system became magnified during our solemn silence. It happened every November 11th. We were told to remember.
My father in England in 1942 |
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill |
Friday, November 8, 2019
IMPLICATIONS OF EXISTENCE
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
AS LONG AS SHE LOVES ME
Young couples just starting out on their life-journey together,
should not be discouraged when they hear that half of all marriages fail and end in divorce—half of all marriages succeed! If they place Christ at the very centre of their marriage and lives, as their first and highest love, they will discover that Christ gives love and makes love grow to heights they did not know were possible! Why? Because Christ is the definition of love.
About a year ago, I started hand-writing LaRee a love-letter each morning to accompany her medications that I put beside her favourite chair before she gets up.[1] My dilemma is this: How do I express the inexpressible? How do I put in words my immense love for LaRee? Our love is what matters to me in this world. My place is with her and her place is with me. We. I am content with life as long as she loves me.
If I dream, let be about LaRee. If I laugh or weep, let it be with
LaRee |
If our family turned on me and ceased to love me, it would break my heart. But I would get through it, as long as she loves me. If I became a pariah or an outcast in society, I could still walk with my head up, as long as LaRee loved me.
Our love and life together has been blessed by God. I am loved.
Mark
________________
[1] I lost the use of my right arm and hand for twenty years and was not able to hold a pencil to write.
Monday, October 28, 2019
HUMAN OPINIONS AND DETRACTORS
Sunday, October 20, 2019
CULTURE OF LIFE AND BEAR FOOD?
Businessman Mac Brydon of Macron, Georgia |
Saturday, October 19, 2019
A SPEECH ABOUT FAITH, FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND THE VALUE OF EVERY HUMAN LIFE
LaRee Pickup addressed the United States National Right to Life Prayer Breakfast about what really matters in life: Life itself |
Friday, October 11, 2019
A BRIEF THOUGHT FOR TODAY ON THE SOURCE OF MEANING
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
I AM A PARIAH IN MY OWN COUNTRY!
Pretty soft pro-Life! What’s the point of Scheer saying he is pro-Life if he’s has no intention of trying to extend Canada’s constitutionally guarantee of the right to life to the youngest and most vulnerable members of Canadian society?
I refuse to pledge my allegiance to this new Canadian value of unfettered choice, regardless of how barbaric it may be. People like me are effectively shut out. I do not fit into the country of my birth. I am a pariah.
Mark Davis Pickup
Thursday, October 3, 2019
CANADA'S RESPECTABLE BIGOTRY AND "SOFT AUTHORITARIANISM"
MDP