Don’t Forget Haiti

I’m afraid that we’re already forgetting the tragedy in Haiti. I don’t mean you, personally. I don’t mean the thousands of folks who have gone to serve the suffering, the dying, the orphaned, the hurting. I don’t mean the good men and women who pray for light in dark places, those who give freely – often times sacrificially – to the needs, those who have a desire to bring an orphan home.

I’m thinking more about the U.S. culture, generally, and our ability to forget. We tend to move on to other interests, more pleasant things that don’t remind us that our world is fallen, that God doesn’t prevent disasters, that pain in this world is pervasive. I’m thinking this as I scan the “Most Popular” category of news items over at Google news. As I write this, there are stories about the Grammy Awards – specifically the fashion blunders, the Apple iPad – and Amazon’s response, China’s indignation about U.S. arms sales, the expected bad news from the White House about the economy, and the meandering leviathan of a film, “Avatar.” THEN there’s mention of Haiti, the responses by our military and also the dispute between some Americans and the Haitian government regarding orphans.

In case you’ve forgotten, there’s still a tremendous need for financial assistance, for medical help, for prayer. Follow the news. Pray knowledgeably. And give. For where you might give, here’s a list from Focus on the Family of trusted partners. It isn’t comprehensive, of course. But it’s a start.

Tim Tebow and The Super Bowl Ad

What’s the big deal? Perhaps you’ve noticed that there’s quite a bit of media coverage about the Super Bowl advertisement by Focus on the Family. The 30-second spot, featuring Pam Tebow and her son Tim, has created a lot of buzz. Google “Tim Tebow” and you’ll find millions of mentions – many of those referencing his association with Focus on the Family and some showing his recent comments about the matter (one example is here). Focus President Jim Daly has been on several television networks and shows, and some colleagues have also been speaking to the media about the ad, which has not yet been released.

I’ve found it interesting that objections to the spot are based on conjecture – not one of our critics has seen the ad. Despite having all the facts, many “women’s groups” are decrying the decision by CBS to air the ad, and many are calling for it to be pulled. Their bias certainly reveals a strong dislike to the consistent pro-life message Focus on the Family has (for more than 30 years) stood for, as well as anything that might cause folks to rethink their position on abortion.

Kudos to CBS for standing firm against such misguided protests, and many thanks to the Tebows for joining us for this spot – which is really a wonderful call to celebrate family. And thanks, too, to a handful of Focus supporters who made special donation toward the significant costs of placing the ad.

Week in Review, Jan 22

As we observed Sanctity of Life week on our broadcasts, we had some powerful conversations – and we received some powerful responses!

The following comment about our broadcast with a woman who ignored advice to abort and chose to have her baby, as reported by one of our phone center staff members, caught my eye:

Gentleman was “flipping through the channels” and heard our broadcast “Choosing Life With No Regrets” program. He couldn’t stop listening.  He hasn’t ever been in Jaqueline Ivel’s situation, and doesn’t know anyone who is, but he was awakened to what God can and does do in the lives of people around him. This realization will cause him to be more aware of those individuals and more sensitive to what they are going through.

About the conversation with a former director of a Planned Parenthood clinic, here’s what a co-worker shared with us:

When I got home last night, one of my friends had left a message about the broadcast.  Turns out she happened to turn the radio on sometime in the “middle of the night” early, early in the dark hours of Thursday morning, because she couldn’t sleep.  Someone else in her house had left the radio tuned to a station that “happened” to be playing the Abby Johnson program when she turned it on.  My friend has been a lifelong supporter of abortion, but the message she heard Abby share instantly changed her mind 180 degrees. That’s one more mind changed about abortion by the power of one broadcast!

And this comment came to our phone team about the same program:

Mr. Smith called today in regard to our broadcast.  He is a Christian, but has always been a devout Democrat.  He never understood why so many were against abortion — until he heard our broadcast today.  He stopped what he was doing and repented to the Lord for his error.  He said the Lord really broke him of his arrogant attitude.  He sees now how horrible abortion is.

Looking at some of the comments we’ve received, including a few here from readers of this blog, I’m sure we’ll hear other stories reflecting how God used our programming this week. We’re grateful for His work through us to touch hearts!

And, starting off the week, we devoted a broadcast to the terrible tragedy in Haiti, and how you can reach out to help those in tremendous need. I hope you’ll continue to pray – and that you’ve considered giving (even if you’ve already made one or more contributions).

Two Incredible Stories About Life

Hear two powerful stories on Focus on the Family broadcasts this week. Jacqueline Ivel describes how, as a pregnant teenager, she was nearly persuaded to have a partial-birth abortion, but decided to have her baby instead. Find the program online or listen to it on your radio station.

Abby Johnson made headlines last fall when she left Planned Parenthood after having a change of heart about abortion. Hear her explain what led to that momentous decision by tuning into your local station, or listen online here.

Keep Haiti On Your Mind, On Your Computer

Here’s an easy way to remember Haiti: install this touching desktop photo-illustration.

More Peru Photos

More photos from our family’s service trip, during which we spent several days at an orphanage in Ayacucho, Peru.

It was a wonderful time and God was very gracious to us as we traveled and during the outreach.

We experienced great joy as we tried to live out the admonition in James 1:27, but I can’t help but feel we can – and must – do so much more for these “fatherless” children.

Our daughter Saige with some new friends at the orphanage.

A rural village in the midst of farming country

A rural village in the midst of farming country

We were drawn to children – everywhere we went, we found kids to smile at, play with and shower with love
Work team helped plant fruit trees - future food and revenue source

Work team helped plant fruit trees - future food and revenue source. I'm on the left, and the two tall guys in the back row are my boys.

Leonid’s Devotion

The following was written some time ago, while I attended a radio event. While I never posted this journal entry, I thought it was a good story worth sharing here.

~~~

I’m staying a downtown hotel in Nashville, and while the place is pleasant enough, the AC has not been adequate. I especially noticed it yesterday afternoon, when the sun was pouring into the room and adding unwelcome heat. Despite having the thermostat cranked as low as I could make it go, it stayed uncomfortably warm in here, even until almost midnight.

So, today I finally called the front desk and a “technician” was summoned. A few minutes later, I met Leonid at the door, and greeted him with appreciation for his prompt response. A shorter man with graying hair, he had his little cart full of tools, light bulbs and supplies. Quickly he asked me some questions about the direction of the outlet vents, and the fan speed, and how cold I wanted the room. I told him I’d had the unit going full blast, and that the current temp was just too warm for my comfort. His brow wrinkled, as if he were thinking about the possible source of the problem.

Leonid pulled off the face plate of the furnace/air conditioning unit and tinkered around with it there for a few minutes. He then changed out the clogged air filter (ewww…it was bad), and put the unit back together. After carefully cleaning up after himself, he inspected his work and pronounced the AC was fixed. He showed me the venting arrangement between the bedroom area and the bathroom, and how I could redirect air if desired, in case I wished to direct 100% of the cold air toward my ‘living space.” I thanked him, and asked if he had another few minutes?

“I wonder if you can repair toilets,too?” I explained that it needed an adjustment, as the toilet did not flush without the handle being fully depressed for almost 30 seconds. It was most inconvenient, and probably an easy fix. Leonid took a quick look, and two minutes later was finished with that job.

“Wonderful,” I exclaimed, “Thank you!”

Noting his foreign name, I asked where he was from? “Oh, where you guess,” he asked? “Well, it seems to me that you probably grew up in Eastern Europe or Russia.” “Ah, Ukraine,” he replied. Turns out Leonid came to the USA 15 years ago, hoping to give his children better opportunities than were possible while back home. Indeed that had worked out well. Now, in addition to a good job at the hotel, his kids were enjoying success in a way that wasn’t possible in Ukraine.

In fact, Leonid is working so his 26 year-old son can complete his MBA from Wharton. His daughter, in her early 20s, is in law school, in part because of her father’s sacrificial support.

“Now I know why so many people come here (to the U.S.),” he said. “The opportunities here are great. That is why we come.” It occurred to me that Leonid’s kids will eventually earn bigger salaries than he could possibly have imagined making back in Ukraine.

I showed Leonid a photo of our youngest son, who was adopted from Russia. He smiled, knowing that the boy’s life will probably change significantly, much as his own children’s lives have undergone transformations since arriving in America. We talked a bit more, and I expressed my respect for him for the work he did with such devotion, all to benefit his family. After thanking him once more for taking care of the AC and the toilet, Leonid left.

As I reflected on the exchange, I felt a variety of things. Gratitude for my own situation, for the many good things God has given to me personally and to my family. Glad to live in freedom, in a culture that allows a person to chase their dreams, whether that is to go into business, to study law, or to work maintenance jobs so his children can pursue those vocations. Happy to see a father so devoted to his children that he’d leave everything familiar, move across the ocean, and take a new job, solely to see the next generation succeed.

And I became even more anxious to get home to Colorado, so I could see my own children. I couldn’t wait to hold them close, and tell them I missed them a bunch and that I love them dearly.

Finally, I was really glad the hotel room AC unit needed some attention. It allowed me to meet a remarkable man. Thanks, Leonid!

Entering The World With A Bit of Flair

While I can brag a bit that I helped deliver our third daughter at home – unexpectedly – I don’t think that story tops this one. And in response, that was a smart move by the airline, I’d say!

Most of the time, babies enter the world with less drama. I wonder, though, if you have – or know of – an unusual story about the labor and delivery process?

God Gives Life

Looking ahead to the weekend, I’m eagerly anticipating this year’s Life Network Gala. This local ministry is having a great impact on many lives, and I’m privileged to be the emcee for the evening. If you live in or near Colorado Springs, I hope you’ll join us Saturday evening for a celebration of life.

Related, I recently wrote some reflections about the sanctity of life. In light of Saturday’s event it seemed appropriate to share those here:

I hate the “quality of life” argument that is used to justify some abortions. Genetic testing has brought more information to parents about their preborn child, and while the technology has and is used for some good, it has also unlocked a Pandora’s Box of “choices” about who can live and who will not. The notion that there is some subjective “quality of life” standard by which we measure the value of an individual is ludicrous. Yet, some physicians and parents will see that a preborn child may have some abnormality which is so significant that is is somehow “best” for that child to be aborted.

Years ago I read Koop and Schaeffer’s book, Whatever Happened To The Human Race, in which they powerfully argued that the “handicapped” individual is quite capable of being happy, of having a rich and meaningful life. The authors asked, “Who are we (the presumably healthy individuals) to suggest they aren’t worthy of life?” Indeed. What we see in our culture, though, is that very argument being applied to those outside of “normal.”

We hear about value judgments being made about who might receive medical treatment. There’s a real possibility that in a nationalized health care system, the elderly, or those with “incurable” conditions, will not receive the level of care they deserve. I am troubled deeply by such “quality of life” arguments. What audacity. What recklessness. What an affront to the Maker of Life.

Quality of life? I’m glad my friend Roger and his wife didn’t accept their doctor’s advice to abort because of a potentially terrible brain condition in their baby. She wouldn’t have much of a life, they were told, if she even lived past the birth. Probably be unresponsive and have no real mental capacity. How wrong that advice was! Thirteen years later, she is a vibrant girl who is active in performing arts, has a vivacious personality and is  loved by all who know her. I’m glad her parents chose life!

Coach Gene Stallings, a broadcast guest, shared powerfully about the incredible joys his son experienced as an individual – and the joy he brought so many others. Despite Down Syndrome, or perhaps because of Downs, Johnny touched many and was loved by all. Coach Gene Stallings said it wasn’t easy raising his son, but he accepted the boy as God designed him, and the love that man had for his precious Johnny was easily seen by all. Who had an unacceptable “quality of life?” I was deeply moved as Coach shared about his son.

The handicapped, the physically frail, the special needs person, the “less fortunate” among us is still created in the image of the Almighty. Let’s not “play God” any more. Let’s accept the gifts the Creator gives us. Even those packaged differently than we expected. Let’s honor God by honoring His beloved creations, and let’s give every person the respect he or she deserves. And let’s see God moving through the least of His people. Every life is sacred, every life is valued.

Focus on the Family has a number of online materials on the topic of abortion and the sanctity of human life:

For statistics and quick facts about abortion, as well as scriptural evidence supporting the sanctity of every human life, visit the Bioethics area of CitizenLink.org.

Faith and Hard Times

We’re either having troubles in life, or we will have troubles soon enough. That’s what one friend is fond of saying, and he is certainly right. None of us escapes life’s challenges, from physical illness to financial pressures to relational discord. Here’s the story of a family who found faith carrying them through some very difficult times. Comfort and encouragement for those who are hurting.

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