Where Is the Right to Life?

In school, I wrote the following paragraph as an assignment. After doing so, I decided to share it with you. Maybe you will find that this challenges you, as it did me in writing it.

Whatever happened to the inalienable rights of all men as given in the Declaration of Independence? Where have the rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” gone? True, the American citizen possesses these rights, but what of the defenseless? What of those who have no voice? What of them who desire life, but are denied? What of the helpless babe in the womb? What of the pregnant unwed woman who sees no option but abortion? The society of today has made exceptions to the rule granting all humans life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. When babies are killed, they lose their liberty and pursuit of happiness as well as their lives. They are discarded as waste, unimportant, and burdensome. Some even use these babies for their own gain. Most call it abortion, but it should be called what it is—murder. It has become lawful to abolish the right to life. Without a voice, babies are helpless to the horrors done to them. Few are standing up for the rights of the unborn. When American citizens refuse to stand up for the rights of babies, then they are giving up the rights that they themselves love without regard to the babies that will never be able to enjoy the experience of their freedoms. Because Americans call these “fetuses” burdensome, they cast them away without a second thought. Who is defending the defenseless? Who is fighting for the freedom of those who have no voice? Who is working boldly toward bringing life to those who so desire, but are denied. Who will help the helpless babe in the womb? Who will stand with the pregnant unwed woman who sees no option but abortion? If even Christians, who have a God-given mandate to stand up for them, will not do so, then how can they expect the nation—and the world—to do what they won't?

This isn't an easy calling. But it is right. Christians need to step out of their comfort zones and enter the pain of the world to come to the defense of those unborn. They are alive, and they need a defender. Will you—will I—take up the call?

Summer Days and Lost People

Quite an interesting title, I know. How do they relate? They really don't. :) So please, bear with my rambling.

I am not overly fond of summer. It gets hot. Where I live in central California, temperatures are usually anywhere from the 90s to the one hundred and teens.  And I don't particularly enjoy heat. Give me rain and cold any day.

Of course, there are benefits to the season. Our pool is often like a jacuzzi. And naturally, no school. :) Most of our summer is busy nonetheless, but there are those days when you have practically nothing to do. Yesterday was one of those days. I read about 500 pages! I read nearly all day, and let me tell you—it felt wonderful. Just lounging around, immersing myself in another world, another time period, another land. It is an escape from reality, but in some cases, also a call to face reality.

So it was with one of the books that I read most of yesterday. An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers is the second book in the Mark of the Lion trilogy. It is set in ancient Rome and Ephesus shortly after Jesus walked the earth. Reading Books One and Two of this series was very enjoyable, but it also a bit depressing at times.

Whenever Rivers described the cities, I felt as though she was discussing America today. Tolerant of everything, all lifestyles, all sins. It opened my eyes to how many people are searching for answers but don't know where to look—or they do but won't humble themselves. They worship whatever god they need at the time, and then move on to the next idol. Their lives are purposeless, without meaning. They engage in anything to please themselves, without thought to consequences or right and wrong. Their motto is live for today. Whatever is right for you is right for you. Supporting and praising sin. Abortion. Transgender bathrooms and locker rooms. Not staying pure until marriage.

I know that America is only one of many countries who have fallen into deep sin. Reading this novel and the first one made me look around. How could I help these lost people? Many times I wonder if anything I do could even make a difference. How can one person change lives? Again, this book helped me see how much difference one person can make, even when he/she doesn't think they are making a change. In this book, Rivers actually used a non-Christian character to convert someone! Talk about God working in mysterious ways.

Okay, I think that's enough for now. To sum this all up: we live in a world headed for destruction. But God has placed each of us in a specific place for a special purpose. Don't neglect that purpose or forget that no matter our circumstances, God has a plan and you can always reach out to others. He will use difficulty to bring others to know Him through us. By trusting God in all things and sharing Him with others, each one of us CAN make a difference in a lost and dying world.

And just a reminder, don't forget to check out my new summer blog design and enter the writing challenge! The deadline is July 22. Thank you!