Alison’s Choice: Watch new movie that is saving lives!

Alison’s Choice – EPK from Marchiano Ministries on Vimeo.

Although this movie has a strong Christian influence, the director – Bruce Marchiano – says that secular distributors are the ones who are interested in getting Alison’s Choice out. In fact, one of the distributors usually markets horror films. Marchiano exclaims: “Just imagine, a pro-life film championed by a guy who sells horror movies. It’s hilarious!”

The feature-length film centers around Alison, who is inside an abortion clinic. She’s already made her decision, but then, Jesus – in the form of a janitor – comes to talk to her.

It’s amazing, it’s powerful, and it’s different than you might expect.

For information on how to purchase the film (which is available on DVD) and how to request it in your own theatre, go here. You can also go to the same article to read some amazing stories of hearts changed and lives saved ALREADY by Alison’s Choice.

 

Who You Are: A Message to All Women

Wow.

I watched this video for the first time today.  And may I say that every, single woman out there ought to see this.

Specifically, if you are a mother, if you are pregnant, if you are unsure, insecure, wondering, wandering, wanting to know who you are and how or if you can go on – watch this.

If you find yourself in an unplanned pregnancy, know that you are part of a community of those who can. You are part of a steady stream of women – and even girls – who have gone before you, who have done this. One of the most famous women with an “unplanned pregnancy” is mentioned in this video.  And her Son made history.

Women need to be told these things. We are women. We are strong. We are capable. We are ready. We are able. We are all these things for ourselves and for our children. And, in fact, we were created that way; we were this way in our mothers’ wombs. Why? How can this be? It has all been made possible for us by One Who gave His life that we might live. On the cross, Christ won every battle that ever had been and was ever to be waged. The battles are already over, and they’ve been won.  We must only choose to accept Him and the victories He has won on our behalf.

Because of Him, you can do this. I can do this. We can all do this.  And when we feel weak, when we feel like it’s too much to go on, let us choose to reach out to the people around us who have been given strength for our moment.  Of course, call upon Jesus, and He will be there.  But also, also, call out for the help of the people He has created.

Call here.

Or here.

Here.

Or even here.

If you are in an unplanned pregnancy, a difficult pregnancy, or suffering after an abortion, call those numbers and get the help you need.  Help is within reach.  You are not alone, and you are awesome.

An Unborn Child Was the First…

Image via Wikipedia

As we approach Christmas and the celebration of the birth of our Savior, I’d like to point you to an incredibly touching article.  It was written by the father of a little girl with Down’s Syndrome.  As this father writes, his precious daughter “belongs to a group of unborn children who are indentified, targeted and eliminated prenatally at a rate of 90+%.”

Most of us probably know at least one person with Down’s Syndrome.  There is absolutely no reason in the world why they should be targeted for death.  They are precious, precious people, who have an amazing capacity to give love.

What does it say about our society that 90+% of people who are about to have a baby with Down’s Syndrome abort that baby?  We can only keep “perfect” babies?  And what is the definition of perfect, exactly?  Clearly, we have our definitions wrong.

As this father poignantly points out, the very first person to recognize Jesus was an unborn child.  Here is what he says: “Elizabeth was carrying her unborn child John the Baptist when Mary who was pregnant with Jesus visited her. Unborn John immediately leaped in Elizabeth’s womb upon hearing Mary’s voice. The unborn son of Elizabeth recognized the unborn baby Jesus in Mary’s womb, and he was so very excited and overcome with joy that he jumped in Elizabeth’s womb! This is an absolute incredible documentation of an event by the gospel writer and physician Luke who was known for his attention to detail. The first person to truly recognize and celebrate…the One who would wash away our sins and lead us to our permanent home in heaven was an unborn child — what eternal wisdom! John was clearly thinking and understanding the magnitude of the situation when he recognized Jesus, and as an unborn child he could not control himself.”

To finish the article…and I hope you do…go here:  http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/kondrich/101222.

In the meantime, let’s remember to celebrate ALL life, for every SINGLE life is truly a precious and PERFECT gift.

Winning the Battle or Choosing to Fight: Which is More Important?

Image via Wikipedia

Of course, I’d say both are important!  The difference is that winning the battle really isn’t in our hands.  We can’t control the results of what we do.  But, no matter what…we CAN (and we must) choose to fight. 

What do you think?  Have you ever found personal victory in the midst of loss?  Would you be willing to share your experiences?

So many times in life—and in the pro-life battle—do we focus on winning; do we believe we will win, and center our hopes on that?  Perhaps our hope should be on Jesus alone, the Author and Finisher of our faith.  He is the Author—He writes the story, not us.  And He finishes the race, not us.  And yet, we are certainly called to run the race with endurance.  Another concept to ponder is that we do not live by our faith alone, but by “the faith of the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself for me.”  (See Hebrews 12:1-2 and Galatians 2:20.)    

Many times, we start well, but do we finish well?  Do we carry out our charge until the very end?  We have to give our heart’s passion and our life’s dreams over to the only One Who can finish well…and perhaps it is this realization alone that allows us to truly finish.  Otherwise, there will always be work left undone.  It is by allowing Him to be the Author and Finisher that we hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.  Enter now into thy rest.” 

Remember, too, that a servant often does the small things—the details—letting his master weave it into the finished project.  I am reminded of a short poem my mother wrote down as a young woman:  “God—He is He, and I, I am only I.”  How profound…

Of course, Christ has already won the victory…we only have yet to see it.  But perhaps our focus should be on the choice to fight the battle, not the hope to win it.  We do not lose that hope, but it is not our focus.  How true that we should do what is right, simply because it is right.  Love allows us to fight a battle and lose.  The order of faith, hope, and love—love is truly the end.  (I Corinthians 13)  It puts self away. 

It is when we lose ourselves and can say with King Arthur of Camelot, “There is no pride left in me” that we can fight no matter how many times we lose.  This is because we do it for love, not for hope or faith, and not for victory.  Faith allows us to believe that our Lord wins in the end; hope gives us that glimmer of our dream when we become weary (for we always know victory is somewhere around the corner); but faith allows us to keep on keeping on regardless of the visual outcome we see.  Time and time again.  Time and time again. 

 My life is but a weaving between my God and me,

I do not choose the colors He worketh steadily

Oft’times He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride

Forgets He sees the upper, and I the underside.

Not till the loom is silent and shuttles cease to fly

Will God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful in the Skillful Weaver’s Hand

As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.

by Benjamine Malachi Franklin

Footnote: Thanks goes to my Pastor, John Smith and the Dean of my college, Roger Magnuson for some of 
the thoughts here.