Clearly C aring P Christian Life Resources
Parish Edition
I Believe in Life Our Unique Perspective Are you afraid to speak up? Are you worried about being mocked because you are pro-life, pro-creation, pro-Scripture and pro-Jesus?
use the psychological tactic of verbal abuse to intimidate their opponent (such as name calling or mockery of one’s perspective on a given subject).
Those who oppose us often mock us for our viewpoint. They suggest that we aren’t especially bright. Let’s try to understand our unique Christian perspective.
Although holding your position may make you seem less-sophisticated, naïve, or viewed as a simpleton, it does not make you wrong. Don’t allow the “sticks and stones” of emotional argumentation and accusations compromise the facts. Stand by what you know is right. Attacks on your character are merely attempts to throw you off track. Don’t fall for it!
Sticks and Stones In debate people sometimes attempt to diminish a position by attacking the person rather than the facts. They C l e a r ly C a r i n g
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First Quarter 2010
The Conflict Between Faith and Logic Many Christians stumble over the very thing that makes them Christian – faith! Faith is defined as: “… being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is illogical. How can you be sure of what you hope for? How can you be certain of what you don’t see? That is the nature of faith. It is the ability to believe the unbelievable. When people debate life in the womb some argue it is merely multiplying cells – certainly not a “person.” Perhaps! Doesn’t our logic wrestle with how life at conception can be accountable for sin (Psalm 51:5)? That’s not all. Our logic wrestles with many things. Left to our logic we have trouble accepting the idea that breaking one little point of law is equal to breaking all of it (James 2:10). We are so encompassed by less-than-perfect surroundings and life, we have trouble comprehending perfection – and how strikingly contrasted and opposed it is to imperfection (Exodus 33:20). For those reasons some wish to craft a religion that makes sense to them – that which appeals to their reasoning (2 Timothy 4:3). This homemade religion works to reject parts of Scripture on the basis of supposed unreasonableness and illogic. They say, “How can we trust in the promises of God without seeing the evidence? How can we possibly walk through the valley of the shadow of death without fear?” (Psalm 23:4) The Miracle of Faith True Christian faith is not the practice of Christian ideals. Those are the fruits of faith – not the substance of faith. Faith is that miraculous ability to take God at His Word. Scripture tells us, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through
the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). Faith is something that comes to us – we don’t go to faith. Through the means of grace (the Gospel in Word and Sacrament), God the Holy Spirit plants and nurtures faith in us. We don’t buy it, we can’t earn it, and we cannot reason it to become our own. Scripture says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9). As we miraculously accept God that He saved us from our sins through Christ, so also we accept the other incredible things He tells us. We were knit together in wombs of our mothers and are wonderfully made (Psalm 139). We are human beings even if others say we are not. Certainly, logic gets in the way. If others want to see life in the womb as a blob of tissue – well, without faith that is what it looks like. The Faith Perspective Some might be apprehensive in their convictions of faith because they lack logic. Remember what Scripture also says about the logic of the world: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12). The strength of the faith perspective is found not in the holder of faith but in the Giver of faith. As we stand by our convictions and do the right thing – even when others want to mock us for it – it is God who is our protector and strength (2 Timothy 4:16,17). The strength of our position is found in its correctness. The position that life exists already at conception may be more an article of faith than logic. It doesn’t matter – if God says it is so, it is so! Our acceptance of things that our reason would reject is the miracle of faith in our lives.
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fearfully and wonderfully made 7 weeks
The miracle of life – more amazing and aweinspiring than any other part of God’s creation. What we have been able to discern from research in chronicling precious life in the womb is remarkable. The pictures of babies still in their mother’s bodies serve as a reminder that we are all precious in God’s sight and need His protection.
This is how you looked inside mommy’s tummy!
Psalm 139 You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 5 Weeks Baby’s heart begins beating. The foundation for every organ system begins to develop. 6 Weeks Baby is growing rapidly and measures 1/8 of an inch long. Eyes are developing and the arm and leg buds can be seen.
11 weeks
2 Weeks Mommy and daddy’s egg and sperm meet to form a tiny cell that contains all the genetic information for every detail of the newly-created life. 3 Weeks Around day 8 baby is about the size of the “period” used in this sentence. 4 Weeks Baby gets nourishment from mommy.
8 weeks
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
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12 weeks
7 Weeks Baby is now 1/3 of an inch long. The arms, hands, legs and feet are now beginning to appear. 8 Weeks Baby is now about 1/2 of an inch long. Elbows and fingers can be seen and move and respond to touch by reflex. Taste buds are forming, along with tooth buds for “baby teeth” and eyelids. 9 Weeks Baby measures 3/4 of an inch long and weighs almost 1/8 of an ounce. Baby ears and nose are visible.
10 Weeks Baby’s brain is growing rapidly. Each minute it produces almost 250,000 new neurons and can make the muscles move on purpose. Baby’s upper and lower arms and legs are clearly seen. The fingers and toes are separating digits and becoming longer.
14 weeks
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.
11 Weeks Baby is about 2 inches long and can yawn and suck! Baby will grow rapidly, increasing in weight 30 times and tripling in length in the next two months! 14 Weeks Now 31/2 inches long, baby can find his or her thumb and suck it. Fingernails and toenails are beginning to form.
16 Weeks Mommy can see if baby is a boy or girl on an ultrasound. At almost 5 inches in length and weighing nearly 4 ounces, baby coordinates the movement of arms and legs. 18 Weeks Baby has reflexes such as blinking and frowning now as well as unique fingerprints and toe prints. Baby can also start to feel pain.
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20 Weeks Baby is now about 10 inches long and weighs 11 ounces. Mommy can start to feel baby moving inside her tummy. Baby has unique waking and sleeping patterns and a favorite position to sleep in! 22 Weeks Baby is about 11 inches long and weighs about 1 pound. Baby has visible hair on head and body. 24 Weeks Baby now weighs about 11/2 pounds. Baby recognizes mommy’s voice, breathing and heartbeat. Some babies born now are able to survive.
6 months
5 months
If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
26 Weeks Now baby weighs almost 2 pounds and can react to sounds outside the mommy’s body. Eyes can respond to light and permanent teeth buds are in the gums. 28 Weeks Baby is now about 15 inches long and weighs about 21/2 pounds. As baby continues to gain weight, skin is less wrinkled and more smooth. 34 Weeks Baby is now about 17 inches long, weighs 41/2 pounds and continues to grow and mature. Baby’s eyes are now wide open! Baby’s head is covered in hair, the fingernails have reached the tips of the fingers, with toenails are close behind. 40 Weeks Baby is now around 20 inches long and may weigh 7 to 8 pounds – a cute plump body and a firm grasp! Typically, baby starts to head down in mommy and awaits birth. Photos of the unborn child courtesy of Life Issues Institute. C l e a r ly C a r i n g - pARI S H E D I T I O N
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Baby outside of mommy’s tummy!
TRUE TO LIFE:
CLR’s life curriculum for Christian schools (Available for purchase at www.FamilyTG.com)
My Feet Then and Now Materials: A newborn footprint or bootie Paint brushes Paper plate for each child
Spray varnish
Thick tempera paint
Curling ribbon
Small permanent marker
Glue
Silver fetal feet pin for each child (available through www.FamilyTG.com) Talk to the children about how perfectly God made them while they were in their mommy’s body. Even before they were born, their tiny hands and feet were just like they are now only very, very small. Show the children the fetal feet and have them compare them to the size of the newborn footprint or bootie and then to their feet now. Tell them these are just the size of a baby’s feet before they were born, when they were first born and now the age they are today. Just look at how much they have grown! •
Write child’s name, age, date and passage Pslam 119:73 on the child’s plate.
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Paint child’s foot with paint and press into the center of a paper plate.
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Wash foot immediately – a helper works best for this.
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Varnish when paint and glue are dry. Add curling ribbon, if desired.
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Poke the fetal foot pin in the plate to show the contrast. C l e a r ly C a r i n g - pARI S H E D I T I O N
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Recipes Just as CLR offers “food for the soul” in bite-sized insights about Christian living, we also offer “food for the body” with recipe favorites. Enjoy this issue’s selection. CREAMY FLORET SALAD 2 cups cauliflowerets 1 cup cherry tomatoes ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
2 cups fresh broccoli florets ½ cup ranch dressing (fat-free)
Combine all ingredients; toss to coat. 83 calories per serving.
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Clearly Caring – Home Edition offers a Christian perspective on life and family issues. Learn about the issues in more detail! Published 4 times per year. 4
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Informational articles written by Pastor Robert Fleischmann, National Director of Christian Life Resources. 3070 Helsan Drive • Richfield, WI 53076 800.729.9535 • www.ChristianLifeResources.com C l e a r ly C a r i n g - pARI S H E D I T I O N
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Home Edition 2011 Volume 31 / Number 1
It Depends On How You Say It
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He Came to Share Our Vulnerabi lity
Also... A Tiny
Step
Page 16
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A Fringe Family