I took part in the abortion study recently in Shelbyville. I started out in the study thinking that I did not need it and that I had already been forgiven and there was most likely no further blessings there. Well, God in his usual way, used that study to increase my relationship with my 30 year old son--and to show me that my pride and shame had kept me from sharing my abortion and my heart with him in the past. On Mother's Day--I shared with my son about the abortion and it has changed our relationship. We cried together and he shared his heart about some things he had been holding onto. It was a very sweet time that I would not have wanted to miss for anything.
Also another way the study impacted me was in helping me realize the healing power of memorializing those who have gone before us. I work with families in counseling and I find now that I can encourage rituals and memorials as a way of healing and honor in a way that I would not have in the past. Memorializing my unborn child brought the grief cycle full circle and created a reality of the situation for myself and my family. I felt many prayers going up while I was in the study and I just want to say thank you and God Bless You.
DB
Friday, May 30, 2008
The “safe sex” message prepares teens for certain failure!
I looked up the word “safe” on my computer’s thesaurus. I’d like to share with you just a few of the synonyms it gave: secure, protected, out of harms way, harmless, innocent and reliable. Now, consider those same terms in connection to giving teens a condom and encouraging them to cheat on their future spouse. It’s a laughable concept if you give it any real thought, yet many try to advocate the idea as valid.
When teens learn to drive we don’t teach them how to minimize the damage of a future crash because it is inevitable. We give our teens the skills to be successful drivers. Likewise, we must give our teens successful life skills to make wise choices, not assume they will fail to do so. Our Choose to Wait abstinence education program believes in the educational process as well as this generation. We have a deliberate focus and approach of educating teens of not only physical consequences of sex outside the boundary of marriage, but mental, emotional, social and ethical consequences as well. The “safe-sex” message focuses only on attempting to minimize physical risks. There is no “protection” for our mental, emotional, social and ethical bonding that this type of intimacy brings. Abstinence is not a moral issue; it is a medically accurate and scientifically sound fact that participating in sex outside the boundary of marriage is not in our best interest and cannot be made “safe” by any means of protection.
Many believe that “not only are teens having more sex, they are having more unsafe sex.” The first phrase of that sentence is the crux of the problem and the second is the misnomer. If teens are having more sex how does it stand to reason that teaching them to have sex in any way is a solution? Abstinence outside of marriage and fidelity within marriage is not only an attainable and realistic goal, but it is in our best interest. Teaching teens how to choose a second or third best choice is exactly what puts them in an “unsafe” situation. To focus only on the risk of unwanted pregnancy is short-sited. What about the Sexually Transmitted Infection/Disease (STI/STD) rates which are at “epidemic” proportions? The National Institute of Health analysis of the protective factor of condoms found there is no sound evidence to support condoms reduce the risk of acquiring many of the most common STD’s.
Risk avoidance, not risk management is in the best interest of everyone, especially our youth! Education complete with truth, facts and data empower and equip teens to make wise choices, not compromising ones. I am certain that the majority of Americans believe in teaching our teens they are worth more than the compromises the media and our culture would have them make. Please join me in believing in this generation!
Tracey Pike, Director of Community Education
When teens learn to drive we don’t teach them how to minimize the damage of a future crash because it is inevitable. We give our teens the skills to be successful drivers. Likewise, we must give our teens successful life skills to make wise choices, not assume they will fail to do so. Our Choose to Wait abstinence education program believes in the educational process as well as this generation. We have a deliberate focus and approach of educating teens of not only physical consequences of sex outside the boundary of marriage, but mental, emotional, social and ethical consequences as well. The “safe-sex” message focuses only on attempting to minimize physical risks. There is no “protection” for our mental, emotional, social and ethical bonding that this type of intimacy brings. Abstinence is not a moral issue; it is a medically accurate and scientifically sound fact that participating in sex outside the boundary of marriage is not in our best interest and cannot be made “safe” by any means of protection.
Many believe that “not only are teens having more sex, they are having more unsafe sex.” The first phrase of that sentence is the crux of the problem and the second is the misnomer. If teens are having more sex how does it stand to reason that teaching them to have sex in any way is a solution? Abstinence outside of marriage and fidelity within marriage is not only an attainable and realistic goal, but it is in our best interest. Teaching teens how to choose a second or third best choice is exactly what puts them in an “unsafe” situation. To focus only on the risk of unwanted pregnancy is short-sited. What about the Sexually Transmitted Infection/Disease (STI/STD) rates which are at “epidemic” proportions? The National Institute of Health analysis of the protective factor of condoms found there is no sound evidence to support condoms reduce the risk of acquiring many of the most common STD’s.
Risk avoidance, not risk management is in the best interest of everyone, especially our youth! Education complete with truth, facts and data empower and equip teens to make wise choices, not compromising ones. I am certain that the majority of Americans believe in teaching our teens they are worth more than the compromises the media and our culture would have them make. Please join me in believing in this generation!
Tracey Pike, Director of Community Education
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Walking in the Light
“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You. How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O LORD, they walk in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all the day, And by Your righteousness they are exalted. For You are the glory of their strength, And by Your favor our horn is exalted. For our shield belongs to the LORD, And our king to the Holy One of Israel.” Psalm 89:14-18 (NASB)
We are rejoicing in the Lord and what He accomplished through His faithful servants this past weekend. On Saturday, more than 400 Pregnancy Care Center supporters gathered in three communities to participate in our Spring Walks for Life.
For the past couple of months, our Walk for Life prayer team has faithfully prayed for a beautiful day and God delivered! Even more beautiful to see were individuals from every denomination gathering together to support the life-affirming work of the Pregnancy Care Center. We had walkers from the Baptist, Methodist, Christian, Lutheran, Wesleyan, Church of God, Catholic, Reformed Presbyterian, Church of Christ, and Non-denominational Churches in our communities participate in the walk. With ONE voice we proclaimed to our communities as we walked that God is the Author of life and all life is sacred.
Thanks to our walkers and their generous sponsors, here’s what was raised through these spring walks (so far):
Bartholomew County
$32,376
Brown County
$7,082
Jennings County
$3,435
TOTAL: $42,893
While we just missed our budgeted goal ($45,000), we are thankful for the increase every walk experienced. This is the second year in a row revenue from the walks increased (in 2007 we raised $36,838) which is a huge blessing as we had been experiencing a decline for several years. THANK YOU Walkers! THANK YOU Sponsors! These funds will ensure that the vital life-saving ministries of the PCC can continue in our communities.
If you had planned on walking but were unable to come Saturday, remember it’s never too late to turn in your pledge form. Just mail it to the administrative office at:
Pregnancy Care Center
PO Box 2215
Columbus, IN 47202
Teresa Russell, Director of Marketing
We are rejoicing in the Lord and what He accomplished through His faithful servants this past weekend. On Saturday, more than 400 Pregnancy Care Center supporters gathered in three communities to participate in our Spring Walks for Life.
For the past couple of months, our Walk for Life prayer team has faithfully prayed for a beautiful day and God delivered! Even more beautiful to see were individuals from every denomination gathering together to support the life-affirming work of the Pregnancy Care Center. We had walkers from the Baptist, Methodist, Christian, Lutheran, Wesleyan, Church of God, Catholic, Reformed Presbyterian, Church of Christ, and Non-denominational Churches in our communities participate in the walk. With ONE voice we proclaimed to our communities as we walked that God is the Author of life and all life is sacred.
Thanks to our walkers and their generous sponsors, here’s what was raised through these spring walks (so far):
Bartholomew County
$32,376
Brown County
$7,082
Jennings County
$3,435
TOTAL: $42,893
While we just missed our budgeted goal ($45,000), we are thankful for the increase every walk experienced. This is the second year in a row revenue from the walks increased (in 2007 we raised $36,838) which is a huge blessing as we had been experiencing a decline for several years. THANK YOU Walkers! THANK YOU Sponsors! These funds will ensure that the vital life-saving ministries of the PCC can continue in our communities.
If you had planned on walking but were unable to come Saturday, remember it’s never too late to turn in your pledge form. Just mail it to the administrative office at:
Pregnancy Care Center
PO Box 2215
Columbus, IN 47202
Teresa Russell, Director of Marketing
Monday, May 5, 2008
bella
On May 6, 2008, the award winning movie bella will be available for distribution on DVD. Produced by Metanoia Films, this movie was the #1 top rated film of 2007 by the New York Times Readers Poll, Yahoo, and Fandango. It was an honored film winning the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival; Best Picture and Best Actor at the 2008 Movie Guide Awards; and the Legacy Award from the Smithsonian Institute’s Latino Center.
Bella is a story of love that goes much deeper than romance. It is a sweetly sentimental story that celebrates life, love, family and relationships. The beautiful Tammy Blanchard plays Nina, an unmarried New York waitress, who loses her job after becoming pregnant. In desperation, she considers abortion her only option.
The restaurant’s empathetic chef is Jose played by the talented Mexican actor Eduardo Verastegui. Jose is an ex-soccer star who gives the young woman emotional support, takes her to visit his loving family and gently tries to persuade her to keep the baby by presenting the option of adoption. Despite appearing rough and shaggy through out most of the movie, Verastegui conveys a gentle warmth and tenderness through his dark Hispanic eyes. Blanchard gives a terrific performance dramatically dealing with difficult and emotionally charged situations.
Director and Co-writer Alejandro Molevede’s heartwarming film portrays Christian values of self-forgiveness, reconciliation and redemption. It addresses sensitive issues with an affirmative pro-life message and has a rather surprising ending. It is a must see film that will be appreciated by adult and adolescent audiences.
For more information on purchasing and promoting this film check out www.lifeisbella.net
Bella is a story of love that goes much deeper than romance. It is a sweetly sentimental story that celebrates life, love, family and relationships. The beautiful Tammy Blanchard plays Nina, an unmarried New York waitress, who loses her job after becoming pregnant. In desperation, she considers abortion her only option.
The restaurant’s empathetic chef is Jose played by the talented Mexican actor Eduardo Verastegui. Jose is an ex-soccer star who gives the young woman emotional support, takes her to visit his loving family and gently tries to persuade her to keep the baby by presenting the option of adoption. Despite appearing rough and shaggy through out most of the movie, Verastegui conveys a gentle warmth and tenderness through his dark Hispanic eyes. Blanchard gives a terrific performance dramatically dealing with difficult and emotionally charged situations.
Director and Co-writer Alejandro Molevede’s heartwarming film portrays Christian values of self-forgiveness, reconciliation and redemption. It addresses sensitive issues with an affirmative pro-life message and has a rather surprising ending. It is a must see film that will be appreciated by adult and adolescent audiences.
For more information on purchasing and promoting this film check out www.lifeisbella.net
Therese Chamblee, Brown County Center Director
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