Clearly Caring by Clearly Caring

Clearly Caring Christian Life Resources

Home Edition First Quarter 2010 Volume 30 / Number 1

Positively Pro-Life & Pro-Family 4 37 Years of Silence Robert Fleischmann

10 Tragedies,

Statistics and Making a Difference

14 Living Large Tim Snyder

Mark Braun

Also... You Can Change the World

Page 18

Clearly Caring – Home Edition Christian Life Resources

Positively Pro-Life & Pro-Family First Quarter 2010

37 Years of Silence

Volume 30 / Number 1

Abortion Affects All

Pastor Robert Fleischmann Stefanie Cox

Rev. Mark Braun

Page 6

Page 4

Tragedies, Statistics and Making a Difference Page 10

Treasured

Living Large

Linda Lawrence

Tim Snyder

You Can Change the World

Page 12

Page 14

Pastor Robert Fleischmann Page 18

Page 16 Changes

Page 17 Another Envelope?! Page 20 Q&A

Page 21 Affiliate News

Page 22 News & Views

In This Issue

On January 22nd, America observed 37 years of legalized abortion. We mourn the loss of more than 52 million lives. This issue will look at that anniversary and its effect on the value of life and family. As God’s children we consider how we can be positively pro-life and pro-family in today’s world.

Coming Next Issue

Carrying Burdens – An Alternative to Suicide

Many believe carrying burdens can hold back and that being a burden can be selfish. The result is a suicide-oriented society. The next issue of Clearly Caring – Home Edition will look at burdens – not necessarily as challenges – but as blessings and opportunities in providing care for an ill, disabled or frail loved one.

To see previous issues of Clearly Caring go to: www.ClearlyCaring.com Christian Life Resources, Inc., 3070 Helsan Drive, Richfield, WI 53076-9582 Phone: (800) 729-9535 Email: Contact@ChristianLifeResources.com Websites: www.ClearlyCaring.com and www.ChristianLifeResources.com

C o m m e n ta ry

37 Years of Silence by Pastor Robert Fleischmann

When the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion across the United States on January 22, 1973, I was 16 years old. I was interested in sports, work, girls, hobbies and being me – and not all necessarily in that order! I was intrigued by the bravery of my classmates who successfully protested for the right of girls to wear jeans at school. I started following politics and even ran unsuccessfully for student council. But I did nothing about abortion.

God. This was hardly the first decision He made that I didn’t understand, but I was learning to trust. As I learned to trust, I also became uniquely aware. The facts of human growth and development had new meaning. Before we even suspected a pregnancy our little son or daughter had a beating heart. By the time he or she died in the womb sufficient time had passed for him or her to have brainwaves and fingerprints – and perhaps the little one may have already begun to suck a thumb and swallow. In much the same way a picture of a second-grade child looks completely different than that same person as an adult, it is clear there is a connection. So also, our little one in the womb did not look like a miniature human being in every characteristic, but there was a connection. There were arms, hands, feet and legs – a torso supported a head and, if allowed to continue to grow, that little one would likely have grown into an adult, shaken hands with the pastor, sassed back at us parents, cried over a broken heart and matured into someone cherished and loved.

I am not completely sure why the legalized killing of unborn children didn’t capture my attention at that time. As I read through Professor Braun’s article for this issue of Clearly Caring (see page 10), I think he successfully touched on the idea of involvement only after it becomes personal. I think it is easier that way. My activism did not begin until 1977, four years after abortion became legal. In that year, we lost our first child through miscarriage. Suddenly, talk about a beating heart, fingerprints and perfectly-formed little feet connected with me. While I cannot deny disappointment that our first child died after just 12 weeks in the womb, I didn’t necessarily mourn. I had a strong faith in the providence of C lea r ly C a r in g

The loss of our first child heightened my awareness of the biological milestones of life in the womb. What if that had not happened? What if there had been no miscarriage? What if there had been no children? What

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if I had not been personally touched by anything that connects me to the development of life in the womb?

that has already allowed the legal killing of over 52 million of them, I encourage you to grow up. Maybe you didn’t lose a child in the womb. Maybe you don’t know anyone who made a decision to have an abortion. Maybe all you know is that the number is high, the loss is great, the killing is wrong and something has to be done.

These are not mere hypothetical questions. Biblically speaking, we do not need to lose an unborn child to be concerned about unborn children. We do not need to have faced death to be concerned about the dying. Those things, in an ironic way, make our concern and awareness a little easier – though not more valid.

Aren’t 37 years of silence enough? Think about this: you probably mustered the courage to ask for a raise. You likely had the boldness to insist the car repairs were done right. You may have sacrificed a considerable amount of money for some of life’s little luxuries. Hear—right now—the silence of a heart that has stopped beating. See—at this moment—the tiny feet that will never walk. Listen—today—to the command to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves” (Proverbs 31:8). The stakes are high, the need is real and the command is clear. Let’s not be silent any longer.

The Apostle James wrote that a pure and faultless religion involves looking after widows and orphans. Think about it: James is not referencing the immediate family; the concern goes beyond the nuclear family unit. This is the same kind of concern Jesus speaks about when He commends those who visit the sick, feed the hungry and house the stranger. It is the pinnacle of Christian service to love the unlovable, to care for those you don’t know and to sacrifice for the wellbeing of others. After all, isn’t that what Jesus did for us on the cross?

Rev. Robert Fleischmann is the National Director of Christian Life Resources. He speaks throughout North America on the Biblical approach to various life and family issues and counsels people with God’s Word in correct decision-making.

If you are my peer – in your early 50s – and all you have done in this cause to protect life is to have read a story or two about the plight of unborn children in a society

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E S S AY W I NNER

Abortion Affects All by Stefanie Cox

While I ate breakfast this morning, 30 children in America were murdered. As I drove to school, 75 more babies were heartlessly killed. By the time I tuned in to watch the evening news, nearly 4,000 infants had died in just one day alone. Though I watched the entire show, the anchorman only reported the latest sports results and weather updates. There was C lea r ly C a r in g

not even a mention of the mass murders that took place in our country. The fact was skipped over as if it were a natural and normal occurrence to have 4,000 Americans killed in a single day. Unfortunately, that is almost exact to the actual case. Of course, abortion is by no means a natural event, but it is sadly evolving into a regular and accepted practice. 6

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Abortion affects everyone

not being able to deter her and may end up resenting her and themselves as well.

Abortion affects everyone. This includes not only the aborted child and the mother, her family and her friends, but also the entire country and world. Imagine if the mothers of people such as Thomas Edison, Abraham Lincoln and Jonas Salk had decided to abort their children. We may still have been living in the dark, our country may have never been reunited and the polio epidemic may still have been spreading. Now think of all the maladies that plague our country today: cancer, heart disease, political unrest and the like. Now try to imagine life without these troubles. What if the person who could help cure them was killed before they even took their first step? Aborting a child is unfair to a world that needs every individual God intends to be placed here.

Abortion advocates often overlook another individual who is affected by their procedures: the child himself. Through the Bible, we know that we have a gracious Father in heaven who states He wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. How can one know about the joys of salvation through Jesus if his life is taken from him before he can hear these truths? We believe that through baptism, a child is brought to faith. Even if the child is called to death before he knows all about God’s wonders, we know that the seed planted in him by the Holy Spirit at baptism is enough to call that child to heaven. But what if the child hasn’t been baptized? What if the mother, even a believing mother, chose that she did not want to give the child a chance to be baptized? The child isn’t to be blamed for this deliberate act of defiance, yet speculation as to the child’s afterlife proves to be a burdensome task that we can never fully know in this life. We do know, however, that God’s good and gracious will is always carried out. Humans should not take lightly a child’s eternal life; rather, they should let God determine and direct it instead of toying with it themselves and leaving it unknown to human reasoning.

The person most obviously affected by an abortion is the woman who chose to have her child killed. Every mother who chooses death over life for her baby realizes the consequences and reacts to some degree, though some face symptoms much worse than others. Post-abortion syndrome (PAS) is a serious condition in which the woman has extreme guilt, shame and anger about her decision. Results from this psychological sickness include anxiety, haunting nightmares, depression, uncontrollable crying and a feeling of utter emptiness. More severe cases can cause the woman to abuse her body through eating disorders, alcohol and drugs, and can place suicidal thoughts in her head. Some people recuperate from this syndrome after weeks, some after months and some after years. Plenty of women live their entire lives without ever fully recovering from the effects of their choice.

The weakness of human reasoning Human reasoning leaves something else to be desired regarding how society views abortion. Although there are countless people, both Christians and non-Christians, who firmly believe abortion is a wicked thing, there are also countless people who see no harm in the taking of a life in this way. In their eyes, there isn’t even a life to be taken; there is simply a mass of tissue inside the woman, not a human being. Pro-lifers know that a human is formed at the moment of conception – after all, what else could it be? The fetus exists, so he is a being. His parents are human, so he is human. Much of society chooses to overlook these clear examples of life in favor of their own views.

PAS affects everyone PAS is not exclusive to mothers; rather, anyone in her circle of acquaintances can suffer the products of the syndrome. In cases in which the father of the child is still in contact with the mother, he may feel intense guilt for being responsible for giving life to a child, then robbing him of it when it had hardly begun. Siblings of the child, though they may not fully understand the exact procedure, are still aware that their new little brother or sister won’t be joining the family as they imagined. Extended family members and friends who do not agree with the woman’s choice might feel ashamed for C lea r ly C a r in g

Regulations and punishments regarding abortion date back to centuries before the birth of Christ. The Code of Hammurabi, one of the earliest law codes in existence, states that, “If a man strikes a free-born woman so that she loses her unborn child, he shall pay ten shekels for her loss.”

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First century influential Christians, such as Tertullian and Athenagoras, defined abortion as murder and stated that the embryo is already a human being. These early laws and insights serve as evidence to the fact that abortion has almost always

Government regulations on abortion leave a large area for leeway. What God says about abortion is much more definite. He clearly says in the Fifth Commandment, “You shall not murder.” This protects all humans, born and unborn. They hold an equal importance in His eyes, as He reminds us that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without Him knowing, Aborting a child is unfair to a world that needs every individual and we, the fruit of His creation, are worth more than sparrows.

God intends to be placed here.

Abortion is a dangerous and tangled collection of many sins, and it affects every single individual. I believe that it is an issue that should continue to be fought against and remembered in prayers. I think Christians can also take an active role in defending the rights of the unborn. Our Lord tells us in Proverbs 31:8, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.” We should continue to pray, stand up for unborn children and live our lives in a way that shows our love for every human being God has created.

been a serious issue, as a result of the fall of man into sin. Laws today disregard the sanctity of life much more than former laws have. Currently 38 states in America officially prohibit abortion after the first trimester; however, if the woman’s life or health is at risk, an exception is made. Similar loopholes are made in nearly every abortion-related law. In many cases, even if only the mental health of a woman is at risk, the doctor will still agree to terminate the pregnancy. One law that has proven to be beneficial is one that is followed by 17 states: after a woman states interest in having an abortion, required counseling is given (including information on related health risks, fetal pain and ultrasound availability) and a necessary waiting period is mandated. C lea r ly C a r in g

“

Stefanie Cox, daughter of Carl and Mona Cox of La Crosse, Wisconsin. Stephanie is in her senior year at Onalaska Lutheran High School in La Crosse, WI.

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ALL THINGS SPIRITUAL

Tragedies, Statistics and Making a Difference by Rev. Mark Braun

In a conversation with U.S. ambassador Averill Harriman, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin allegedly said, “The death of one person is a tragedy; the death of millions is a statistic.” Stalin would seem to be an expert on that subject, since his regime is believed to have murdered as many as 43 million people. Perhaps the kindest thing one could say about Stalin’s remark is that it contains some cynical truth. But it may also reveal a surprising insight into human psychology. In The Washington Post of January 5, 2009, Department of Human Behavior columnist Shankar Vedantam reported on the research of Prof. Paul Slovic of the University of Oregon. Slovic tested the assumption that people should be expected to care twice as much about a tragedy affecting 100 people than one that affected 50, but he learned instead that the human mind does not work that way. When a tragedy claims many lives, we often care less than if a tragedy claims only a few lives. When humanitarian disaster or genocide occurs, “the first life is very precious, but we don’t react very much to the difference between 88 deaths and 87 deaths,” Slovic concluded. “You don’t feel worse C lea r ly C a r in g

about 88 than you do about 87.” In one of several experiments, he asked volunteers whether they would raise $300,000 to save eight children dying of cancer. Those in another group were told about only one child with cancer and were asked how much they were willing to donate to save that single life. Slovic found that people were willing to give more money to save one life than to save eight. Slovic’s research suggests that people tend to intervene in situations where they can help all or most victims, but become overwhelmed when the numbers get too large. Since 1973, there have been 52,000,000 legal abortions performed in the United States. With some desperation, pro-life advocates ask, “How many more will it take to move people to action?” 60,000,000? 100,000,000? But Stalin’s dreadful remark and Slovic’s startling research indicate that people are not motivated by massive numbers as they are touched by manageable need, and by personal experience. Florida businessman John Walsh may have heard many stories about child abduction, but it was the kidnapping of his own son Adam that changed his life and moved him to action. The Walsh family

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began a campaign to help missing and exploited children, which led to passage of the Missing Children Act of 1982 and the Missing Children’s Assistance Act of 1984. The family also formed the Adam Walsh Child Resource Center, which merged with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, where John Walsh serves on its Board of Directors. Supporters and critics of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will debate her personal style and political prospects for years to come, but the story of the birth of her son Trig with Down’s syndrome is a compelling narrative, and it makes her a powerful advocate for disability rights. What is it that moves pro-life supporters? They may not always know, or they may prefer not to say. Some see a child or grandchild every day whose life was spared rather than aborted. Others may have received loving encouragement and support to keep their baby when terminating a pregnancy seemed the only alternative. Still others may speak silent daily prayers of thanksgivings as they ponder how the circumstances of their own unborn lives could easily have placed them among the 52,000,000.

A better choice for reflection than Stalin’s brittle comment would be Loren Eiseley’s oft-repeated story, “The Star Thrower.” One morning, a writer who regularly walked along the ocean shore saw a young man reaching down to the sandy beach, picking up small objects and throwing them into the water. As the writer came closer, he asked the young man, “What are you doing?” Without looking, the young man replied, “Throwing starfish into the ocean. The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they will die.” “But,” the writer protested, “there are miles of ocean beaches and millions of star fish. You can’t possibly make a difference!” The young man bent down, picked up one more starfish, tossed it into the ocean and looked up at the writer. “I made a difference to that one.”

Rev. Mark Braun is a Professor of Theology at Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, WI and a member of the Christian Life Resources’ Board of Directors.

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L AW REN C E S ER I E S

Treasured by Linda Lawrence

Editor’s Note: This is fifth in a series of articles written by Ms. Linda Lawrence that addresses the challenges and blessings in caring for an aging parent. The final installment will be in the next issue of Clearly Caring.

Mom has lived in a nursing home since her Alzheimer’s progressed to the point that she forgot how to sit or walk. Twice she has mentioned not having her “treasures.” I think about her few possessions that lie in a trunk in my basement and wonder what she feels she is missing.

“Is it the pink pitcher, Mom?”

“No!” she laughs as though I’m being silly. “What is your treasure?” I give her my whole attention, silently waiting and hoping for her to find her thought, and then the words. Suddenly her eyes light up. She reaches for me and says with a sigh, “You’re my treasure.” We laugh and sing. You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy...

But I keep thinking about what might make Mom feel treasured. Earlier, I had brought her cherished photo of her Daddy holding her as a toddler. This has been Mom’s treasure as long as I can remember. It always hung in her bedroom in a large oval frame. Mom’s father died when she was five years old, but she still has sweet memories of him.

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I recently held up a picture of my Dad in his 40s and asked Mom the name of the handsome man. “I don’t know,” she said. “It’s just some old man.” There are 60 ribbon- bound letters in Mom’s trunk written during Mom and

Dad’s courtship. I read her the letters she kept for over six decades. “First love is sweet,” she said, seeming to have forgotten how Dad resented Mom also loving Jesus. She seemed disconnected from the people in the letters – not remembering the pain that came from being unequally yoked. When I showed her pictures taken during their courtship she recognized herself, but asked if the man in the pictures was the man in the letters. It doesn’t appear she connects these letters, the photos or her wedding dress with her marriage to Dad. There’s just a pleasant remembrance of being loved once upon a time. I’ve been reading Mom stories from In Grandma’s Attic. One story was about difficulty with button fasteners on the back of a dress. I thanked her for putting a hidden zipper in the back of the wedding dress she made me, so I didn’t have to struggle. “But your wedding dress had buttons down the back, didn’t it, Mom?” I asked. “I think so....” she said. Suddenly I had an idea. “I’ve got it!” I exclaimed, remembering her wedding dress hanging in a garment bag in a closet at my house. “Would you like to have your wedding dress here? Is that one of your treasures?”

of rejected love were over. She phoned her children, went to bed and slept. In the morning she woke up, alone, now fully conscious of having neither father nor husband. Then, she remembered God’s promise to support the fatherless and the widow. Slowly the words of Isaiah surfaced: “... Do not fear... you will forget the shame of your youth... the reproach of your widowhood... the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit.... For your Maker is your husband... I will have mercy on you – says the Lord, your Redeemer.” “I qualify!” Mom shouted in the empty house and began to dance with joy. All the painful memories have now been forgotten. Hoping that peace and joy can be nurtured and sustained, even as pleasant memories fade, her ivory satin wedding dress has been hung in her room alongside pictures of those she treasured – and a streamer proclaiming: His banner over me is Love. Linda Lawrence is retired and resides with her husband, Carl, in Corvallis, OR.

“Oh, honey, that would be lovely,” she said wistfully. We sang a song that for years has brought Mom tranquility. I am my Beloved’s and He is mine His banner over me is love... She swung into the second verse with a lilt in her voice, eyes aglow. He brought me to His banqueting table His banner over me is love... I reflected on the day Mom danced with joy grasping the reality of Jesus as her Bridegroom. It was two years after Mom had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and Dad told me he knew he was not cut out to be a caregiver. Then Dad had a stroke, and Mom spent her days at the hospital caring for him. On Thanksgiving Eve Dad was in a coma. Mom had said and sung all her last good-byes to him and slipped away for an hour to attend a Thanksgiving service at her church – and when she returned he had slipped away into eternity. It was finished. Her days and nights C lea r ly C a r in g

Many abortion advocates concede that abortion terminates a human life (although they prefer the term, “pregnancy termination”). One notable concession came from feminist and abortion-rights advocate Naomi Wolf. In calling abortion “a necessary evil,” Wolf urged the “pro-choice” community to be more honest in its rhetoric by acknowledging “the fetus, in its full humanity.” SOURCE: Christian Life Resources; The New Republic, October 1995

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T H E T I E T H AT B I N D S

Living Large by Tim Snyder

Living Large – To live an extravagant or self-indulgent lifestyle. (Dictionary.com)

living that is diametrically opposed to an extravagant or self-indulgent lifestyle. The question really should be worded this way:

Is your family living large? What a silly question to ask during these times of economic hardship. I am not implying that you are self-indulgent. This is about a different kind of “living large.” It is a kind of

Is the life of Christ lived large in our homes?

C lea r ly C a r in g

This type of “living large” is summed up by the Apostle Paul: “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and

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gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1,2).

The family that is positively pro-life and profamily follows the example of Christ. This family speaks God’s truth in love and avoids the deadly legalism that so appeals to our sinful natures. In the Gospel of John we see how the Pharisees dealt with a woman caught in adultery. They showed no love for the sinner – only a misguided zeal for the law and a desire to carry out its letter rather than its intent. The transparency of their actions was made evident by their desire to trap Jesus in a seemingly no-win scenario.

Paul describes a lifestyle you will find in Christ-centered homes. A family that is positively pro-life and pro-family loves as Christ loved. That’s a tall order! I think of the many times I have failed to be the servant-leader that Christ has called me to be. I’m not a very good imitator of God, and my family is no better. Paul is asking the impossible.

“

“Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” (John 8:4b,5). Jesus got right to the heart of the matter with His response: “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7b).

The gospel transforms me. Not only should I be an imitator of God, empowered by the Spirit I am an imitator on God.

But, what about my sinful failings? I am a new creation in Christ who delights in serving Him. I am also a sinner who wants nothing to do with Him. “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature” (Romans 7:18). Again I must look to my Savior. The Christian life is one of daily repentance. It is a life centered on the cross. “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:4). The Christian life is also a life of continual growth through faithful use of the Means of Grace. The zeal and commitment to live a Christian life are sadly lacking in all of us. The gospel, which comes to us in Word and Sacrament, is the means that the Holy Spirit uses to instill genuine zeal and commitment. The fruit of the Spirit marks the home where the life of Christ is lived large. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22,23a).

“

A closer look at these verses from Ephesians tells a different story. It starts with the comforting fact that I am loved by God and that His Son gave Himself up as a sacrifice for me. My sin, the very evidence that I cannot imitate Christ, has been pardoned. My relationship with God has changed. No longer an eternallycondemned sinner, I am God’s dearly loved child! The gospel transforms me. Not only should I be an imitator of God, empowered by the Spirit I am an imitator of God. It’s a fact. Christians can answer in the affirmative that the life of Christ is lived large in their homes.

The Pharisees, unable to respond, went away one-by-one and left Jesus alone with the adulteress. “Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin’” (John 8:10,11). A home where the life of Christ is lived large is a home that speaks the truth in love. Sin is never whitewashed or covered up. It’s a home where the gospel of forgiveness always looms large. The inhabitants of this home belong to Christ. They love like Christ. They are positively pro-life and pro-family. May we all have such homes! Tim Snyder is the Director of Media Services and Research & Development at Christian Life Resources. He enjoys a wide variety of roles at CLR including script writer, illustrator, graphic designer, videographer, sound engineer and editor.

WE B SI TE RES OURCES at www.ChristianLifeResources.com Family Traditions That Cherish Life (Search Shortcut # 7918) Baby Talk – Teaching Children About the Value of Life As a Gift From God (Search Shortcut # 6721) C lea r ly C a r in g

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H A P P EN I N G NO W !

Changes a note from Christian Life Resources

Beginning in 2010 things will be a little different with learly aring Clearly Caring. The familiar educational centerpiece of the Christian Life Resources Christian Life Resources ministry will now be published H in two versions. The Home Edition, which is what this is, will continue to be sent to all who have supported the ministry of Christian Life Resources. The articles are going to be steered to be a little more hard-hitting and to-the-point. I understand the audience to be those who are already moved by the love of Christ to reflect that love to others. You are an audience hungering for solid food to help you better distinguish between Clearly Caring P good and evil and to better understand Christian Life Resources what all you can do to love others.

Home Edition

First Quarter 2010 Volume 30 / Number 1

Parish Edition

recipes

Positively Pro-Life & Pro-Family

3 cups mixed spring greens 1 cup iceberg lettuce (torn into bit-size pieces) ½-1 cup dried cranberries ½-1 cup cashews

4 37 Years of Silence

Robert 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded swiss cheeseFleischmann

10 Tragedies,

1-2 Granny smith apples (unpeeled), thinly sliced Poppy seed dressing to taste (or use homemade dressing below) In large bowl, toss all ingredients except dressing. Drizzle with desired amount of dressing just before serving. OPTION: Add a cored and cubed medium pear, if desired.

Statistics and Making a Difference

14 Living Large Tim Snyder

Celebrate Life

Mark Braun

What Does the Bible Say… Page 18 about the Beginning of life?

Also... You Can Change the World

HOMeMaDe pOppy SeeD DreSSing ½ cup sugar 1/3 cup cider or red wine vinegar 2 T. lemon juice

Clearly Caring – Home Edition

2 T. finely chopped onion ½ tsp. salt

2/3 cup vegetable oil

2-3 tsps. poppy seeds

Whisk all the ingredients until well blended. C l e a r ly C a r i n g - p a r i S H e D i T i O n

C E L E B R AT E L I F E

understanding that context helps us to answer the question about when life begins. We read in Psalm 51:5: “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” Life at conception is much more than a blob of tissue, a “part” of a woman’s body or developing flesh with potential. At conception there is already an accountability for sin. It is biology, therefore, that helps us understand the more intricate details. When sperm and egg meet a new life begins. Genetically each life inherits characteristics from the parents but all human life is uniquely individual and already accountable to God. If left undisturbed it grows, matures, exits the womb, grows and matures, exits the home, grows and matures and eventually exits this life. After fertilization the only things that change are maturity and location.

One portion of scripture tells us that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), and in another part Jesus describes the eternity for those who refuse to renounce sin and confess Jesus as their savior. On Judgment Day He would tell them: “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).

Each Parish Edition of Clearly Caring will contain favorite recipes to be enjoyed by everyone. pOppy SeeD CranBerry SalaD

Because there was no purity in us sinners God sent His son, Jesus, as a substitute. He paid the price for sinfulness, and God accepted what Jesus did as payment for our sins. Our sins did not disappear. Our sinfulness continues to wreak havoc in our society, our families and our personal lives. Jesus, however, became the perfect payment for our sinfulness and removed their eternal consequences.

Whether one talks about pregnancy, abortion, embryonic stem cell research, in vitro fertilization or miscarriage, one question becomes pivotal, “When does life begin?” Because the question regarding the beginning of life is generally rooted in biological concerns we are inclined to first look for a biological answer. Instead, we find a different C l e a r ly C a r i n g 1 perspective from God’s Word.

The Bible is the account of man’s relationship with God. It is the story of perfect beginnings in the Garden of Eden and disastrous results in disobedience to God. From that point forward the imperfect state of men and women eternally separated them from God. God, however, provided a unique solution. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). FIRsT QuARTER 2010

Clearly Caring – Parish Edition

Simultaneously with this Home Edition, we will begin publication of a Parish Edition. It also is a four-color issue of Clearly Caring, but it will be smaller in size – like a worship service bulletin. It will include eight – rather than 24 – pages. The articles will be tailored for those who are relatively new to the issues and challenges of life but will be focused more on the basics. The articles will not be tied to a point in time. The periodical can, in fact, become a useful pamphlet years later.

There is nothing worse in all existence than being found guilty of sin before the perfect God. It is worse than any temporal human suffering. It is worse than man’s most terrible of tortures. It is worse than any contemporary injustice or tragedy. Being guilty of sin without a savior has consequences that never end – and they are endlessly harsh!

C l e a r ly C a r i n g - p a r i S H e D i T i O n

Biology indeed supports the Biblical truth that at conception – that is, when the sperm fertilizes the egg) – life begins. That Biblical truth then guides us in how we look at beginning-of-life questions that challenge us today.

C E L E B R AT E L I F E

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FIRsT QuARTER 2010

The Parish Edition is designed for congregations to continue to order, free of charge, for distribution to all of their members. It will provide more of the “milk” of life and family issues, nurturing the readers to grow to the “solid food” found in the Home Edition. If your congregation does not provide a copy of Clearly Caring to every member, encourage your pastor or congregation leaders to order the Parish Edition of Clearly Caring for distribution to every member.

Congregation Resources Life Sunday Materials: CLR offers you the personal help and materials to guide you through difficult issues. Among our resources, we provide Life Observance Sunday materials that support your efforts in conducting a Celebration of Life event. A Life Observance Sunday is a wonderful way to promote and celebrate life in your congregation! Available at: www.ChristianLifeResources.com

Clearly Caring – Parish Edition: Described above. Available at: www.ClearlyCaring.com

Pro-Life Bulletin Covers: CLR offers its series of pro-life bulletin covers for purchase. These beautiful covers are available in various sizes and can be customized with your church’s information. Available at: www.FamilyTG.com If you are interested in any of the above materials, please call 800-729-9535 to request them or visit the websites listed above. C lea r ly C a r in g

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Another Envelope?! In 25+ years of working to raise the funds to support this ministry I have learned the following:

10. People want to provide for the basic needs of others in their charity Case in point: the generous outpouring of charity for disaster relief.

9. About 80% of the support comes from 20% of the people It is called the “Pareto Principle.” Although there are always exceptions, in general it tends to be accurate.

8. Based on income, poorer people are more generous It is a fact!

7. Wealthier people say the foremost reason they are unable to support a cause is because they say they cannot afford it This is well supported in many surveys.

6. Religious people are much more supportive of secular causes than secular people We have a greater motivation – compelled by the love we know in Christ.

5. Conservatives are more likely to donate than liberals This reminds me of a Canadian survey on organ donation: Most people are willing to donate a loved one’s organs but are not willing to donate their own. Liberals tend to look for social policy to provide charity.

4. Women are more uncomfortable making pledges than men

3. A well-promoted ministry attracts more donor support Because promotion can be so closely tied with “pride,” our Christian roots often make us lousy promoters. As a result, we commonly hear, “I didn’t know who you were” or “I didn’t know you did those things.”

2. Donors give more when asked in person, and they are acquainted with the person making the request That is why celebrity endorsements are often used. People may not know a charity, but they feel they know the celebrity and often trust his or her judgment.

1. Those who complain most about appeals often give little or no support When someone complains “vigorously” about getting too many appeals or about the content of the appeals we discover that they rarely, if ever, donate. The ministries of Christian Life Resources and New Beginnings - A Home for Mothers deal with the basic needs of life. We protect life and help people live with the decision to protect life. In this way we speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. This is one way we provide a home to the homeless, food for the hungry and healing to the sick. We are different, however. In all of our work we witness to the Lord of Life. We use everything as a bridge to also talk about our Creator and our Savior from sin. What we do is more than charity – it is a disciplined Christian witness in action and in words. When you use the enclosed envelope to support this ministry, you partner with us in this grand mission. Please, as you are able, use the envelope and continue your support.

This seems to be changing over time, but in earlier years it was especially the case.

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H A P P EN I N G NO W !

“You Can Change the World” by Pastor Robert Fleischmann

When I turned 40, a friend of mine told me that a person reaches middle age when realizing he or she can no longer change the world. If that were true I suspect I might live well past 100 years!

one ever told him about Thanksgiving.”

Aging is the blessing of accumulated experiences. It provides a person a broader context in measuring life’s challenges and opportunities. The late satirist, Erma Bombeck, wrote two books entitled If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries – What Am I Doing in the Pits? and The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank. Getting older has helped me better understand the humor.

My personal mission statement of changing the world is Biblical, reflected in the Great Commission to proclaim salvation through Christ and in the command to love one another. Both worthy efforts are often met with opposition, skepticism and even peril. The mission remains valid, however, because it comes from God.

What time gives you – what simple headknowledge doesn’t – is experience. In writing about the often misguided zeal of youth, humorist Harry Golden wrote, “The arrogance of the young is a direct result of not having known enough consequences. The turkey that every day greedily approaches the farmer who tosses him grain is not wrong. It is just that no C lea r ly C a r in g

I cling to the ideal of changing the world, but time has taught me the challenges can be great and complicated. I know all too well the tentacles of sin that destroy lives and families.

A world truly changed, however, only comes from changed hearts. Changed hearts only come by the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit working through the Biblical message of hope and eternal life. We are the clay vessels, the fragile and vulnerable messengers, entrusted with this Gospel of hope and love, to be shared in word and deed.

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Jesus Christ changed the world. He did it Don’t stop! Eventually, take on a bigger with humility and sacrifice. Though being part of the world. Unborn children are in very nature the perfect and holy God, dying – speak up for them (Proverbs 31:8). He made Himself nothing to save all of When the aging are made to feel they are us (Philippians 2). Can you imagine how a burden, demonstrate respect (Leviticus different the world would be if people 19:32) and carry the burden, even when practiced this Christ-like love? An unborn it might become a hardship for you. child would live, because the parents think more about the child than themselves, their careers or personal pursuits. Husbands You demonstrate an eternal optimism and wives live in harmony that leaves some people to scratch because they genuinely think their head or others to ask you how more about their spouse than you do it – and then you can tell themselves. Conflicts between them about God’s eternal solution children and parents would only exist in a competitive nature of for sin in Jesus (1 Peter 3:15,16). out-loving and out-sacrificing each other (Romans 13:8).

“

Yes, it is easier said than done. As a youngster I was overwhelmed by the perceived rules, regulations and regimens of our Christian faith. I saw every Biblical directive as a single, standalone instruction and never worked hard at connecting the dots. Time has and continues to change that: by using life’s experiences to help me to put together the pieces and to see the connections. So where do we begin? Baby steps! Start with personal time of reflection. Soak in the personal significance of the cross. Realize your own sin and the “plank in your own eye” (Matthew 7:4,5) in order to mitigate a self-righteous heart. See in the cross the demonstration of perfect love summed up by the Apostle Paul when he said, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). When we were the most unlovable, unappreciative and undeserving, Jesus perfectly loved. As time progresses and our strides become longer, wade deeper into God’s Word. In time the Holy Spirit massages and warms cold hearts of sin and soon the plight of others becomes compelling (2 Corinthians 5:14). You begin to see the spiritual and physical needs of others as your concerns, and you will want to do something. Start practicing within your family. When a family member flirts with sin, become concerned (Ezekiel 3:17-21). When a child is born at a time or with a condition that presents challenges, step in to help. When an aging or disabled member of the family needs more help, be the first to step forward. Use your family as a training arena for your developing altruism (1 Timothy 5:8). C lea r ly C a r in g

What happens when you do this? You change the world! You demonstrate an eternal optimism that leaves some people to scratch their head or others to ask you how you do it – and then you can tell them about God’s eternal solution for sin in Jesus (1 Peter 3:15,16). Perhaps at 53 years, I have hit middle age. Yet at times, I feel as though I am just learning to walk. As maturing Christians there remains before us a lifetime of opportunity to learn, understand and practice what it means to be a child of God. There is much to do: we have a world to change.

A May 2009 Gallup Poll revealed a majority of Americans now identify themselves with the position of protecting human life. It found 51 percent identified themselves as pro-life and 42 percent pro-abortion. The shift is a significant change from the previous year, when 44 percent said they were prolife and 50 percent self-labeled themselves as “pro-choice.” SOURCE: 5/7/09 – Gallup’s Annual Values and Beliefs Survey

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q & a they concluded that either the man or his parents had sinned and blindness was the punishment. Jesus answered “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life” (John 9:3). According to Jesus, the focus is not on the physical ailment but rather on the response to the condition.

Questions & Answers

We can’t fully understand God’s plans, but we can do our best to glorify God in every situation. Your father’s illness will cause physical pain, but it might serve as an outlet for others to demonstrate their compassion. His condition might scare away some of his friends, but it could draw him closer to his Savior. His disease will lead some to say that his life is no longer worth living, but you and your family can provide a Christ-like example of unselfish love. The next time someone asks, “Why would God do this?” you can respond, “So that my faith can be strengthened and His name glorified!”

CAREGIVING Q: My dad was recently diagnosed with ALS. We are all pretty devastated. He knows that his quality of life will diminish, and he will become totally reliant on us kids. The other night he asked, “Why is God doing this to me?” I didn’t know how to answer him. I guess I have the same question.

BIRTH CONTROL/ABSTINENCE Q: I’ve heard that teen pregnancy rates have increased. Is it time to teach our kids about birth control? A: Teaching about birth control is not the solution. Abstinence is still the only sure way to avoid pregnancy, STDs, and the emotional pain of pre-marital intimacy. Even more importantly, abstinence education is consistent with clear Biblical principles.

A: The simple answer is that God is not doing this. Bad things happen in our lives because of sin. The second and third chapters of Genesis remind us that God did not create us to be sinful. The sad consequence of human sinfulness is suffering and ultimately physical death.

Christian parents should not teach or promote “safe sinning” among our youth, even if worldly philosophies claim it is the prudent option. Rather, we need to convey a clear message that is consistent with God’s Word and continually encourage our youth to pursue God-pleasing relationships in their dating years.

The better question that you should ask is, “How should we respond?” An excellent example is recorded for us in John 9, which tells the story of Jesus healing the man who was born blind. The disciples asked Jesus for a logical explanation as to why this man was blind. Using their human reason, Do you have a question you need answered? Send your questions to: Christian Life Resources 3070 Helsan Drive Richfield, WI 53076 or email Info@ChristianLifeResources.com C lea r ly C a r in g

We care about you and want to answer every question you have in a timely manner. However, due to heavy mail volume, we may be unable to respond quickly, so please be patient. Your question, with an answer from Christian Life Resources, may appear in an upcoming issue of Clearly Caring magazine.

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A F F I L I ATE NE W S

TOUCHING LIVES Statistical reports are not very effective in motivating people. In fact, statistics typically lead people to become disinterested or even bored. The value of statistics, however, is that they measure progress. In 2008, statistics from our network of centers indicated an increase in the number of clients seen (5,200) than any year since 1995. This upward trend began in 2006 and indicated that our centers made some meaningful changes. The 2009 statistics from our pregnancy counseling centers are even more positive. Initial reports indicate that our centers touched the lives of 5,500 people last year! These statistics might impress you, but they probably don’t motivate you. Here is the part that should give you some motivation: two-thirds of the people who come to our centers hear a Gospel message, and roughly 20% of them are not Christian. What other ministry is capable of reaching thousands of people every year with God’s Word? What other ministry is capable of personally touching the lives of hundreds of people who don’t know Jesus as their Savior? God has truly blessed this ministry and provided opportunities to save babies from abortion, but more importantly, offers the privilege of sharing the eternal life-saving message of the Gospel. C lea r ly C a r in g

Help to Make a Compassionate Difference! All of this is very encouraging, and I am happy to share this good news with you. Sadly, there is also a statistic that is not positive. Many of our centers are not open full time. In fact, some of our centers are open only one or two days a week. Without more volunteers, that statistic is not going to improve. We need more help. If you live near one of our centers, contact them and ask if you can help. You don’t have to be a counselor to help make a difference, so don’t let that prevent you from learning more. Even giving a few hours per month can help a great deal. If you don’t live near a center, you can help with your contributions to one of our centers or to our national office. CLR provides a number of direct benefits to the local centers so your gifts will truly help make a difference. Our ministry is not about numbers and statistics – it’s about people. With your help, we can touch even more lives with the Good News. With you as a partner, we can continue making a difference! Mr. Paul Snamiska is the Program Administrator at Christian Life Resources. His role includes the development of educational materials; presentations to churches, schools and other groups; and overseeing the Affiliate Services work.

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H A P P EN I N G NO W !

Montana Third State to Legalize Physician-Assisted Suicide

News & Views

The Montana State Supreme Court issued its ruling on assisted suicide on December 31, declaring that the Montana state constitution does not forbid citizens from seeking help from a physician to help end their lives. The decision makes Montana the third state – joining Oregon and Washington – to allow legalized assisted suicide in the United States. S O U RCE: 12/31/09 – LifeNews.com

Study Finds 80 Percent of Caregivers Suffer Effects of Anxiety, Stress

Young Adults Continue Trend Toward Pro-Life Position A new poll finds nearly six in ten young adults – or 58% of “Millennials” aged 18-29 – agree that is abortion “morally wrong.” According to the survey conducted by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, they join 60% of “Generation X’ers” (those 30-44 years) in taking a pro-life stance. These young generations trend pro-life even more than their parents (those 45-64 years) – with 51 percent of “Baby Boomers” falling in the pro-life camp. S O U RC E: 1/21/10 – Christian Newswire Press Release

U.S. Economic Impact of Abortion Estimated at $38.5 Trillion A report by the Movement for a Better America finds the economic impact of surgical abortion since 1970 is projected to have risen to $38.5 trillion – more than twice the current national debt – in the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). S O U RC E: 1/21/10 – LifeSiteNews.com

Planned Parenthood Continues to Close Doors According to the most recent study by STOPP International, 38 Planned Parenthood offices closed in 2009 – a record number. The closures stemmed from reduced state budgets, since Planned Parenthood relies on taxpayer funding for one-third of its revenue.

Eight out of ten people who care for a loved one suffer from anxiety and stress, regardless of their socio-demographics. According to research by the Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology from the University of Granada, the high number of caregivers suffer from the negative effects of physical, psychological and social development. S O U RCE: 1/19/10 - Medical News Today

After One Year, Wisconsin Clinic Fails to Perform Any Late-Term Abortions No single late-term abortion has yet to be performed since the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics and Meriter Hospital unveiled plans to perform the procedure at its Madison Surgery Center outpatient facility. In early 2009 the boards of the various institutions approved such a plan. Public opposition and longer-than-expected set-up of the practice were cited as factors in the delay. S O U RCE: 1/18/10 – Wisconsin Right to Life Blog

First Federal Trial Begins on Constitutionality of Same-Sex Marriage The first federal trial to determine the constitutionality of states banning same-sex marriage began in San Francisco on January 10. The landmark proceedings involve a challenge to Proposition 8, the same-sex marriage ban narrowly approved by California voters in November 2008. Proposition 8 changed the state’s constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman. S O U RCE: 1/11/10 – LifeSiteNews.com

S O U RC E S: 1/30/10 – WORLD Magazine C lea r ly C a r in g

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State Legislative Trends Revealed for 2009

Bill Launched in Scotland to Legalize Assisted Suicide

In 2009, more than 900 life issues-related measures were introduced across the United States and the District of Columbia, according to the Guttmacher Institute’s annual state review. By year’s end, 77 new laws were enacted in 34 states and D.C. related to abortion (including sex-selection, coercion, and partial-birth abortions), counseling and waiting periods, ultrasound, parental notification, refusal clauses, pregnancy and birth – or more than double the 33 new laws enacted in 20 states from the previous year.

Patients as young as 16 who are terminallyill or disabled could end their lives in Scotland under the “End of Life Choices” bill, making the country the first in the UK to legalize assisted suicide. On January 21, Veteran MSP Margo MacDonald formally launched the proposal.

S O U RC E: Guttmacher Institute’s 2009 State Policy Review

Suicide Rate Skyrockets Among Veterans New data from the Veterans Affairs Department reveals the suicide rate among male veterans aged 18 to 29 years jumped 26% from 2005 to 2007. In 2007, the suicide rate for this group reached 56.77 per 100,000 (compared with 44.99 per 100,000 in 2005). According to the VA, of the 30,000 Americans who take their lives each year, 6,000 are veterans.

S O U RCE: 1/21/10 – Times Online

According to Care Net, more than 30,000 individuals volunteer at crisis pregnancy centers each year, by offering mentoring, counseling and material assistance to clients facing unplanned pregnancies or the after-effects of abortion. SOURCE: Care Net

S O U RC E: 1/11/10 - Huffington Post

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Order online: www.FamilyTG.com Call: 1-800-478-2719 C lea r ly C a r in g

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The mission of Christian Life esources (CLR) is to use life R and family issues as bridges to convey the love of God and to share the message of salvation through Christ.

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Clearly Caring

OUR MISSION

The official publication of Christian Life Resources, Inc. (Published 4 times per year) Publisher: Christian Life Resources, Inc. 3070 Helsan Drive Richfield, WI 53076-9582 (800) 729-9535 email: contact@ChristianLifeResources.com websites: www.ClearlyCaring.com www.ChristianLifeResources.com ISSN:1549-2508 Copyright © 2010 Christian Life Resources All rights reserved. Unless otherwise noted as restricted, permission is granted to reprint articles from Clearly Caring – Home Edition with credit line indicating source, issue, and author if indicated. To place paid advertising in Clearly Caring – Home Edition please contact the Editor or visit our website at www.ClearlyCaring.com/?advertise.php for rate information.

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Rev. Aaron Mueller (Chairman) St. Mark Ev. Lutheran Church, Eau Claire, WI Prof. Mark Braun (Vice Chairman) Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, WI Mr. Daniel Nommensen (Secretary) Wisconsin Lutheran Child and Family Service, Milwaukee, WI Mr. Scott Menke (Treasurer) University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Racine, WI Mr. Glenn Blank St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church, Slinger, WI Dr. Thomas Luetzow Medical Associates, Ixonia, WI Rev. Paul Prange WELS Ministerial Education, Milwaukee, WI Mr. Daniel Thiel St. Paul’s Lutheran School, Muskego, WI New Beginnings – A Home for Mothers, a separate legal entity affiliated with CLR, supports single mothers in a residential setting who have decided to carry their babies to term while teaching them how to include Jesus in their lives. The Christians Concerned for Life Foundation is a separate legal entity affiliated with CLR, established to sponsor special life and family affirming projects that reflect Biblical principles in protecting human life and ministering to souls. Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used in permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.