CHARLIE GARD: URGENT ACTION REQUESTED!

Below is a Tweet sent this morning to the Chief Executive of Great Ormond Street Hospital for children. Dr. Peter Steer. This hospital is where baby Charlie Gard is being kept until his ventilator is turned off. It will result in the baby's death. You will notice that Prime Minister Theresa May, Pope Francis, President Trump and the European Union Court of Human Rights have been included in the Twitter Message.

I ask you to send a similar Tweet to Dr. Steer @GreatOrmondSt or the hospital's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Great-Ormond-Street-Hospital/251976511945677 --Thank you. They may kill Charlie at any time. This is urgent!

URGENT APPEAL TO HOSPITAL FOR CHARLIE GARD

[This blog post has been distributed widely.]

To: Dr. Peter Steer, Chief Executive, Great Ormond Street Hospital for children, London, England, @GreatOrmondSt

From: Mark Davis Pickup, North American Life & disability issues advocate, HumanLifeMatters.org, email: HumanLifeMatters@shaw.ca, Canada.

Dear Dr. Steer:

URGENT: REGARDING CHARLIE GARD, PATIENT WITH MITOCHONDRIAL DNA DEPLETION SYNDROME                          

This communication is in support of Connie and Chris Gard, parents of 10-month-old Charlie Gard who suffers from mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome. Doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital want to turn off the baby's ventilator which will result in his death. Mr. and Mrs. Gard want to take him to America for experimental treatment. They have raised £1.3million ($1.68 million US) for a medical flight and treatments. There will be no costs to taxpayers or the hospital.

I call upon Great Ormond Street Hospital for children to release baby Charlie Gard in the care of his parents. They have the resources to ensure their child has the best care during the medical flight to the U.S. and to cover medical costs while in America. Should Charlie die, the parents will have the consolation that they left no stone unturned for their baby. They have a right to try.

Please prepare baby Gard for release to his parents and a medical flight. Thank you.

Mark Davis Pickup

HIS PERFECT PEACE HE GIVES TO ME

Jesus said,

“But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14: 26-27.)

Perfect peace. Without Christ, the human longing for internal peace is either elusive or counterfeit. Do not discount this truth. Jesus is the author of all we know and all that is unknown (see John 1.1-5, 12-18). Even when our world seems to be falling apart we can have peace in Christ who offers salvation to all and deliverance from our sins through His sacrificial offering on the cross (see Colossians 1.12-20).

 

Jesus is the source of internal peace that transcends all understanding (see Philippians 4. 6-7). That peace has a transformative quality that has, throughout the centuries, changed even devilish people into saints. The history of Christianity is replete with examples of this.

On the other hand, the absence of Christ’s peace can turn gentle souls into cynical, stone-hearted people. The world’s cruelty can sear individual and even collective human consciences.  We see this in displayed in such things abortion, child and elder abuse, euthanasia and pornography.

And yet in the midst of human violence and spiritual corruption Christ still offers his peace to all who come to know Him. This peace has come to me ― even in the storms of life and the terrors of degenerative disability. I discovered a peace that came from beyond the ages. 

The darker my physical reality became, the more evident the light of Christ became. There were times when my physical circumstances threatened to engulf me. My prayerful cries were met with a deep peace that quenched the fear. I cannot explain it logically: it is that peace that The Apostle Paul mentioned that surpasses human understanding. An inaudible yet real message of assurance of the Holy Spirit descended upon me like the breeze from a dove's wings to subdue the terror and panic raging within me “Be not afraid, I am with you” (cf. Matthew 14. 27).

There is nothing in this world that can rob me of my eternal hope in Jesus Christ. As God tells us in His Holy Bible, “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46.10). Earthly life may destroy my body but my soul is safe with Christ.  He is with me now and forever.  -- Mark

A SPEECH IN WASHINGTON, DC

Recently I stumbled across a video on Youtube of a 2016 speech I gave at St. Matthew the Apostle Cathedral in Washington, DC. (It's at bottom of this post.) My address was leading up to the U.S. National March for Life in the nation's Capital city. 

I entered the Cathedral. The art took my breath away. Stunning! 
Established in 1844, St. Matthew Cathedral is an American historic site and repository of art and sculpture at its best.

As I prepared to speak, I noticed about three feet in front of me was a marble plaque on the floor with these words:

HERE RESTED THE REMAINS OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY AT THE REQUIEM MASS, NOVEMBER 29, 1963 BEFORE THEIR REMOVAL TO ARLINGTON WHERE THEY LIE IN EXPECTATION OF THE HEAVENLY RESURRECTION. 

And so I began my speech to pro-life Americans -- some of the finest citizens any nation can have -- who came to Washington from across the Union.  A blizzard was descending on the city but it did not deter hundreds of thousands of people marching in the streets to speak up for the sanctity of human. They called upon legislators to overturn Roe v. Wade that has been responsible for the abortions of 58 million preborn babies. They spoke out against acceptance of euthanasia and assisted suicide.  

Below is the Youtube video of my speech. Please excuse a few audio problems that briefly pop up in a few places.  If you would like me to speak in your area about against euthanasia, assisted suicide or address disability or a Christian perspective of suffering, contact me by email at HumanLifeMatters@shaw.ca -- Mark

THIS FATHER'S DAY, REMEMBER ...

THE REGRESSIVE WORLD OF PROGRESSIVES

The Canadian city of Edmonton spent $3 million on a fence across a high-level bridge over the North Saskatchewan River.  It is intended to prevent suicidal people from jumping off the bridge. Happily, the fence has been successful in that regard. Although progressives don't see a philosophical or ideological contraction to the fence, let me play devil's advocate (after all, most of Canada's, politicians, mainstream liberal media and government élites are doing his bidding). If suicide is an exercise of personal autonomy, doesn't the fence obstruct people's right of autonomy?

Chief Justice
Beverley McLaughlin

On February 6th, 2015, Canada's Supreme Court, under the ideological leadership of Chief Justice Beverely McLaughlin, unanimously struck down Canada's law against assisted suicide. They focused on Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (similar to a constitution) that says:  "Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereof except in accordance with fundamental principles of justice." (Happily, Justice Mclaughlin will be retiring soon. Unhappily, we're still stuck with the other eight.)

The Justices suppressed the first and highest human 'right to life' in order to elevate the lesser right of 'security of the person'. In other words, the high court's low decision raised personal autonomy to preposterous prominence. Why do I say the right to life is the first and highest right? All other rights (including the exercise of liberty and security of the person) depend upon the right to life in order to exist. Beverley McLaughlin and the other eight starched collars on the high court view personal autonomy of higher concern that sanctity of human life. And the Supremes said as much. From their ruling:

"... we do not agree that the existential formulation of the right to life requires an absolute prohibition on assistance in dying, or that an individual cannot "waive" their right to life. ... The sanctity of human life is one of our most fundamental societal values. Section 7 is rooted in a profound respect for the value of human life. But S7 also encompasses life, liberty and security during the passage to death."

After muting the right to life and the sanctity of human life, the nine illustrious judges continued:

"Underlying both of these rights [liberty and security of the person] is a concern for the protection of individual autonomy and dignity." Citing a British Columbia Human Rights Commission ruling they agreed that liberty protects "the right to make fundamental personal choices free from state interference."

Although the Supreme Court Justices were dealing with assisting the suicides of disabled and sick Canadians, surely the principal of making autonomous choices on matters of life and death apply to all Canadians, under this new legal model. To be consistent in the Brave New Canada under the Supreme Court's vision, shouldn't suicide prevention fences like the one in Edmonton be taken down, suicide prevention telephone hotlines across the country unplugged and suicide prevention programs stopped? After all, they impinge upon Canadians freedom to decide the time and place of their own deaths and make autonomous choices. But I don't think consistency is what the Supreme Court's had in mind with their deplorable ruling.

The Canadian Supreme Court ruling and subsequent federal assisted suicide law are intended exclusively for the disabled and sick. Medical killing of the disabled has been sold with the deceptive, saccharine euphemism medical assistance in dying.  It sounds so civilized and compassionate. Medical assistance in dying is actually called palliative care. What was legalized was medical killing.

The Supreme Court's assisted suicide decision and subsequent so-called progressive legalizing of assisted suicide dealt a serious blow to hard-won disability equality.  People like me have sought for more than thirty-five years to advance the cause of people with disabilities being treated as equals with the rest of the population. We fought to be equal in law, social policy promoting inclusion, health care, and every facet of society. The new law treats Canadians with disabilities as lesser citizens undeserving the same protections as the rest of the population. It seems that the progressives are, in fact, regressive. What Canada has now is suicide prevention for healthy and able-bodied Canadians while Canadians with disabilities and incurable disease get assisted suicide. It gives new symbolism to the Justices' blood-red robes!

Canada's new law will be eventually challenged by some depressed or mentally ill person who wants to be euthanized. They will say they don't want to risk trying to commit suicide by their own hand for fear of bungling the attempt and ending up in a worse position. They may say their emotional and psychological suffering is as great or greater than my physical suffering. And who are you or me, or judges in ivory towers, to say it is not?! A legal Rubicon has been crossed, a Pandora's box has been opened, the genie will not go back into its bottle. Tear down the fences that hamper 'choice'! 

Welcome to the darkening and indifferent world of unfettered personal autonomy. It is the natural and absurd conclusion to a regressive world of progressives, in all its callous splendour. God help us.

Mark

OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

Christ blessing the children
Jan Salomonsz de Bray
1663

I am an old man. Most of my life is behind me now. I am old but I'm happy. My world is filled with love despite spite of more that 3 decades of serious degenerative neurological disease (multiple sclerosis).

A number of years ago, my youngest grandson came to visit for a week. He was three years old. We had a wonderful time doing nothing in particular. Each day we went out to explore various playgrounds, or a field, or collect rocks. He would sit on my lap and we whizzed around town in my electric wheelchair. As we travelled about we sang children's songs. He could really belt out rousing renditions of Itsy Bitsy Spider, Wheels on The Bus, and of course, that generational favourite, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

We would pass the big red church at the top of the hill in the center of my little French village, and I talked to my little guy about Jesus and things like the real meaning of Christmas and Easter. As each day came to a close and bedtime came, I read to him children stories from the Bible. He took it all in and accepted it as the truth. We read about how God made the world and when Jesus blessed the little children. We prayed for mommy and daddy, his brother and sister. When we said, “Amen”, he simply said "good night Papa", closed his eyes and went to sleep hugging his favourite stuffed animal.  My grandson was completely secure in the care and love of his grandparents. He slept like – well, ... a baby.

His simple, pure faith broke my heart. I thought of what Jesus said: "Let the little children come to me, and do not forbid them; for such is the kingdom of heaven," (Mathew 19.14, cf. Mark 10.13-16.)

Just like my grandson's dependence and trust in me, I must trust and depend on God. In the previous chapter of Matthew, Jesus used the example of a small child to model discipleship.

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children,^ you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.^ Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one little child like this in my name receives me." (Matthew 18.1-5, cf. Matthew 10.40, 19.13-15.)

Jesus was referring to child-like humility and trust,

not childish thinking or behaviour. The word “turn” means to change course. It implies repentance. It is a crucial component to salvation and entrance into the Kingdom of heaven, along with faith, trust in, and dependence on Christ. Was Christ referring to receiving believers who are child-like in their Christian faith, or receiving small children in His name, receive Christ?  Both. Jesus’ teaching on children in Matthew 19.13-16 affirms His love for children and closely followed his teaching on marriage, which precedes his teaching on money – but that’s fodder for a different blog entry.

It is God’s intent that children be raised in the security of a family with a father and mother. That’s the model. In Matthew 19.4-6, Jesus states that marriage is between a man and a woman in agreement with God’s original plan for the conjugal union (Genesis 2.24). Biblical Christians must, therefore, conclude that children are best served by a family with a father and a mother. 

Both genders bear the image of God and should reflect different characteristics and attributes of God. Children need to see these loving parental differences to help develop a healthy understanding of God. The more both parents trust and depend on Christ, and love and serve each other, the more accurate the reflection of God’s characteristics. Conversely, the less trusting and dependent on Christ that the parents are ― the more distorted the image that is given to their children.

As a grandparent, my role is to be supportive to the marriages of my adult children, to offer advice when sought, and to lovingly adore and encourage my grandchildren and give them a sense of their heritage.

It’s not as easy as it may appear, especially for someone aggressive or dominant. by nature. I want to take charge! But that’s not my role, I am not in charge. I am only the grandfather. God’s way is that my adult children raise my grandchildren, not me. 

I am taken back again to a Scripture mentioned above: 

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children,^ you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.^ Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one little child like this in my name receives me."

My little grandson (and all my grandchildren) have taught me about humility and the kingdom of heaven. I must turn and become like a child and trust Christ with complete abandon.  -- Mark