Mar 13 2010

The wrong number was the right number

Category: abortion,religion — harmonicminer @ 9:25 am

Here’s why we need to support crisis pregnancy centers that work with mothers to save babies.

Astonishing Coincidence saves baby from abortion in Indianapolis

I know you’re familiar with the old saying, “God works in mysterious ways.” Please sit down and read this whole story. Our God of mystery has outdone Himself this time!
A young woman in Indianapolis, Indiana – we’ll call her Erin – woke up, saw her kids off to school, dropped her preschoolers at a friend’s house, and noticed that she was late for an appointment … at Planned Parenthood … for an abortion.
So Erin picked up her phone and called to see if she could still come in. She thought she was calling Planned Parenthood. In her haste, she dialed a wrong number.
Instead of Planned Parenthood, she got Joseph, who was answering the cell phone that’s being used by …
… get ready for this …
… 40 Days for Life in Indianapolis!
~ David Bereit, National Coordinator, 40 days for Life

Joseph took a deep breath and tried to be as calm as possible. He took Erin’s name and number and simply said that a counselor would call her back.
So Elizabeth, the counselor, called Erin. Elizabeth begged her not to hang up, and then explained that she had not reached Planned Parenthood. Asked if she was a Christian, Erin said “yes.” So Elizabeth told her God’s grace was at work in this “wrong number” situation.
So what had led Erin to the abortion center? Simply put – desperation.
She has four children, their father is in jail, she had lost her job, her electricity is about to be shut off, and she doesn’t have enough money to pay the rent.
Later, Erin arrived at Planned Parenthood with her aunt. The aunt told counselors she opposed the abortion, but Erin’s mother and sister insist it’s the best answer. They say Erin just can’t handle another child.
In the meantime, Elizabeth had spread the word about Erin’s situation. A volunteer offered to pay her electric bill. Ten others pooled their cash to pay her rent.
Eileen in Indianapolis says a local group is now working with Erin to help her find a job. “She has a lot of potential,” Eileen said, “but needs support since her mother and sister are still encouraging her to abort the baby.”
Erin has reacted with both joy and disbelief that strangers were helping her. She has called Planned Parenthood to cancel her appointment and request a refund.
Please keep Erin and her family – and all those helping her – in your prayers.
So, you see? God does work in mysterious ways. There are no coincidences … and in this case, no wrong numbers!

Mar 13 2010

Growing pains

Category: Uncategorized — harmonicminer @ 8:47 am

Maliki appears to have narrow edge in Iraqi elections

First results from Iraq’s parliamentary election showed the prime minister and his secular rival locked in an extremely tight contest amid fraud allegations by rival parties and a chaotic, unpredictable vote count.

Looks like Iraq and Florida have something in common.

The meta-message: Iraq has a good chance of “making it” as a democratic nation. That would have seemed an unbelievable pipe dream 20 years ago.

Why only “a good chance”? Because there are still forces that could destabilize Iraq sufficiently that an over-reaction into more authoritarian government would ensue. Iraq’s leaders will have to walk the (pretty narrow) line between being tough enough to suppress terrorism and attempts to violently subvert the democratic will, and leaving enough freedom and self-determination for markets to work, the economy to grow, and people to feel that they are largely in control of their lives, all radical departures from the Baath era.

The biggest test yet to come? A peaceful transfer of power between political foes, as the result of elections, always the defining characteristic of a modern democracy, and the thing which set the US apart from the world a couple of centuries ago.

George Bush is looking more like Harry Truman every day, though it will take awhile for the success (admittedly delayed) of his essential Iraq policy to redound to his credit.

I would give a lot to know what will be taught to Iraqi school children in 30 years about George W. Bush. If Iraq stays a democracy, it ought to be much more positive than the American (and European) Left would ever have dreamed.