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Life Lines for June 8, 2008
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville

Her name is Kristi Burton and at the age of 13 she began her crusade for the pro-life movement in her own high school, speaking out on pro-life issues.

Now at the young age of 20, she is already making her mark in the pro-life camp nationally. Burton’s belief is that personhood lies at the very core of life issues. She has asked, ”If unborn children aren’t humans, what are they?” She began her work by speaking with a friend who was an attorney. She was counseled that what was needed was a constitutional definition that laid down a principal of law, that an unborn child is a human being, with all the rights our society grants a human being. Burton stated, “No one should be able to kill someone just because they feel like it … we wouldn’t allow that with anyone but the unborn.” And that’s how it all started. Gov. Mike Huckabee supported Burton’s amendment and launched attention to it nationally, helping to get the message out. The Personhood Initiative has caught fire and turned into a movement. It was reported that the members of Colorado for Equal Rights have more than the required 76,000 signatures needed to get the personhood proposal on this November’s ballot. Burton stated that “This amendment will establish a cornerstone for protecting human life in our society … and we all know this is the right thing to do. We are giving Colorado voters an opportunity to vote their conscience and protect the most innocent and helpless ones among us.” But, they will be facing an uphill battle as the pro-death supporters are lining up to stop this amendment in its tracks. Let us pray for a positive outcome on the side of protecting the unborn and the work of Ms. Burton. Psalm 145: 17-20. The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his work The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.

Life Lines for July 13, 2008
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville

The popular and moving pro-life movie “Bella” has a new chapter unfolding nationwide. It has been turned into a novel that is available in bookstores across the country.

Life Lines for August 17, 2008
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville

Jill Stanek, nationally known speaker and pro-life activist, will be the guest presenter at the September 21, 2008 meeting of Illinois Valley Lutherans for Life. The meeting will be held at Salem Lutheran Church’s annex beginning at 5 p.m. with a sandwich supper. Ms. Stanek will speak at 6 p.m. Salem Church is located at 222 E. Beecher, Jacksonville, IL and the entrance to the church annex is located at the north side parking lot off College Ave.

Everyone is invited to attend and reservations are not necessary. However, in order to better prepare for the sandwich supper, if you plan to attend, please call Jeanne Strubbe at 217-243-8562 by Wed., Sept. 17.

Jill Stanek’s commitment to Christ led her to risk her job, reputation, and friendships to stop the terrible practices of abortion and infanticide. Jill was a registered nurse in the Labor & Delivery Department at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois. She discovered not only were abortions being committed there, but babies were being aborted alive to die without medical care. When hospital leaders said that they would not stop, Jill went public and has become a national figure in the effort to protect both born and pre-born infants.

Jill has been quoted in the national media on television, on radio, in print, and by local and national legislators. There are hundreds of examples, but some include:

• Fox TV News programs, O’Reilly Factor and Hannity and Colmes
  

• Newsweek, U. S. News and World Report, The Washington Times, The New York Times, World Magazine, and Christianity Today
  

• Chuck Colson’s Breakpoint; Dr. Laura’s television program, Dr. James Dobson’s Focus on the Family radio program, Fr. Frank Pavone’s television program, Defending Life, Dr. D. James Kennedy’s Coral Ridge Ministries radio and television programs
  

Jill has now testified twice before the Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives and in several state legislatures. Jill’s written testimony has been read several times in key U.S. Congressional debates on the Partial Birth Abortion Ban and Born Alive Infants Protection Act.

On August 5, 2002, President George W. Bush invited Jill to his signing of the Born Alive Infants Protection Act, which will protect live aborted children from infanticide. Jill was honored to be publicly thanked for her help with the bill by the President during his speech.

In January 2003, World Magazine named Jill as one of the 30 most prominent pro-life leaders in the movement over the past 30 years.

On November 5, 2003, President Bush invited Jill to his signing of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban, which will protect partially delivered babies from being killed by abortion.

Jill writes on pro-life issues as a weekly columnist for www.WorldNetDaily.com, rated the #1 independent Internet news site.

Jill is a member of Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park, Illinois. She is wife to Rich; mother of Michael, Timothy, and Daena; and grandmother to four grandsons. She has addressed many groups at the national, regional, and local levels sharing her testimony and giving an insider’s view to the atrocity of abortion.

Life Lines for August 31, 2008
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville

A recent survey conducted by the Pew Forum shows that 39 percent of Americans claim that abortion will play a role in determining their presidential vote. Although this percentage is down from 47 percent as recently as 2004, it still reflects well over one third of Americans say abortion plays a part in their voting decision.

Other facts revealed in the same survey found that 47 percent of Republicans say abortion is a top issue affecting their vote while only 36 percent of Democrat voters say the same. Of the voters who have not chosen a presidential candidate to support, 36 percent say abortion is important to their decision. The Pew poll also revealed that voters who regularly attend church are more likely to admit that abortion is an important part of their decision to support one candidate over another. Interest in moral values, which some voters include topics like abortion, stayed about the same as in 2004, with 63 percent saying it affects their vote then and 61 percent saying so now.

Concerning abortion itself, Pew found men and women are just as likely to be pro-life, black Americans are more pro-life than white Americans, younger voters are more pro-life than middle aged adults, evangelicals are more pro-life than mainline church members, and Hispanic Catholics are more pro-life than white Catholics.

The presidential election is fast approaching and each one of us who is of voting age will need to make a decision about our next leader. It is very likely that the next president will need to appoint more judges to the U.S. Supreme Court. Whether killing the unborn remains legal in our nation is one of the issues that could well be decided by the next judge(s) who are appointed. Will you stand up for the unborn? Song of Solomon 2:15 says, "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." Foxes sometimes in search of food would enter into the grape orchards and devour the grapes and spoil the crop. However, the little foxes were too small to reach the grape bunches, so they would chew on the vines and it would kill the whole vine. Instead of the farmer just losing his crop, he would lose his vine, which was more disastrous. Spiritually some things we do or allow that we might think are little or insignificant can also be disastrous for us.

Listed below are some of the "little foxes" that generally keep us from our civic responsibilities, in the area of voting. The devil uses these lies and others so that he can keep godly men and women away from the polls and get the candidates of his choice elected. If we do nothing, it makes it easy for the enemy to help those who could become the wrong leadership for our nation.

"My one vote doesn't count anyway."
"I'm disillusioned by the whole political process."
"I'm already too busy to take the time to cast an informed vote, so I just don't vote at all."
"Politics are corrupt anyway and as a Christian I don't want to be involved."

These are just some of the excuses that people use to justify their failure to exercise their civil responsibility to vote. Only heaven will reveal the many opportunities that we had to change things for the better in this nation, yet, we failed to do so because we failed to use our right to vote. We do not realize the privilege we have to be able to have a voice in the choice of "who shall be our leaders and what kind of laws should govern our land." If we were to go to a country that did not afford its people this right and live under the usual dictators that rule those countries, we might be more thankful for this advantage.

Life Lines for September 7, 2008
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville

Anyone who has ever written a “letter to the editor” to the Jacksonville Journal-Courier has ended up being slammed in the controversial “Open Line” section of that same newspaper. It has happened to me many, many times and I have always ignored the comments. However, the Open Line response to my letter, which was published on Thursday, August 21, 2008, has prompted me to respond, not in the Journal-Courier, but to you, my Christian friends.

Essentially, my letter to the editor addressed the answer that Barrack Obama gave to Rev. Rick Warren during the Faith Forum on when babies receive human rights. I won’t go into the details of the letter because it has been published. If you missed it, let me know and I will send a copy to you. But to summarize, I disagreed with Obama’s answer on when life begins. He hedged the answer with a non-answer. I believe that life begins at conception because God’s Word says it does.

On Monday, August 25, 2008, there was a response to my letter in Open Line and I have included it in its entirety. “The Illinois Lutherans for Life, I believe we have a right to decide what is done to our body. You people want to raise them and send them into an unjust war. Which is worse?” First of all, it is grammatically incorrect, but that is the norm in that section of the newspaper. This person makes the claim that “we have a right to decide what is done to our body. “ But do we? 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. The next point stated that we want to raise them and send them to an unjust war. It is only that person’s opinion that the current war is unjust, and we do not have a current draft. The brave men and women who are in service to our country volunteer to do so. It is their choice to serve our nation and God bless them for doing so. A baby in the womb does not volunteer to be torn limb from limb from the mother’s womb. It is the choice of the mother and her doctor to kill the unborn baby. So, “which is worse?” Does that question really warrant an answer?

Life Lines for September 14, 2008
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville

The pro-abortion folks are always spouting off about 𠇌hoice” except when someone makes a “choice” which doesn’t fall in line with their agenda of killing the unborn. Take Bristol Palin for instance. She was thrust into the spotlight almost immediately after her mother was named as John McCain’s running mate. Why? Because she’s seventeen years old and five months pregnant and wants to keep her baby. She told her parents and they will support her with love in her decision to keep her baby. This was a choice that this courageous young lady made, but it didn’t sit well with Gloria Feldt, former Planned Parenthood president. Feldt had the nerve to suggest that Sarah Palin is forcing her daughter to keep the baby. Feldt said “She (Bristol) probably feels powerless right now. Because of her family’s attitude she probably doesn’t feel that she has a choice in terms of what will happen to her. Her mother is weaving a narrative that it’s a heroic thing of course that she is going forward with the pregnancy, she’s getting married and it will all be beautiful and rosy.”

Are you as outraged as I was when I read Feldt’s comments? Of course any person with a shred of common sense knows that not all will be rosy when a teenage woman gives birth but to suggest that Bristol Palin is keeping the child to help in her mother’s political career is beyond bizarre. It’s as if Feldt and the evil organization of Planned Parenthood believe that families who actually choose to give life and love to unplanned babies are somehow mentally deranged or they have an ulterior motive.

Planned Parenthood claims they want to reduce the number of abortions. Well, here is the first step so why don’t they embrace the idea that Bristol is choosing life for her child, not death through abortion? It is clearly beyond the realm of reasoning for Planned Parenthood and its representatives to believe that someone would actually want an unexpected baby. When a woman chooses life for her unborn child, it cuts into the profit margin of Planned Parenthood, which is already a multi-million dollar business leaving behind a trail of millions of aborted babies.

Bristol Palin will face many trials because of her decision to have her baby, but her joy will make it all worthwhile, and she’s not alone.

Isaiah 40:11. Like a shepherd He takes care of his flock. He gathers the lambs in His arms. He carries them in His arms. He gently helps the sheep and their lambs.

Life Lines for October 5, 2008
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville

Today, the first Sunday in October each year, is known as Respect Life Sunday. But, do citizens in our nation respect life? Some do, hopefully the majority still does, but a great number of American citizens do not have respect for human life … life created by God.

Since January 22, 1973, 50 million unborn babies have been killed in our nation upon the altar of “choice”. The choice is made for varying reasons; social, convenience, economic, and birth control are the four main reasons for abortions in our country with birth control at the top of the list. When will it stop? Who will stop it? American citizens KNOW what is happening and have failed to stop this abortion holocaust. We have it within out grasp to start the wheels to turn the tide AGAINST Roe V. Wade.

John Donne once wrote “…any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” Legalized killing of the unborn is the fiercest moral crisis our country faces today. I call it a fierce moral crisis because our unborn children are being slaughtered on a daily basis in order for abortionists and abortion mills to turn a huge profit.

One of the U.S. presidential candidates recently stated that he wasn’t sure when human life began. It is a proven scientific fact that human life BEGINS at conception. It cannot be anything except a human he was conceived by human parents. Not too hard for me to figure out! Modern medicine can now perform surgery on the unborn to correct problems weeks prior to birth. They are helping a tiny human, not a blob of tissue. The abortionist who reassembles the arms and legs of the tiny infant who was ripped from his mother’s womb can hardly have any doubt whether it is human or not.

The real question for most informed American citizens is not when life begins, but rather what is the value of this human life? Our nation is moving forward like a train locomotive toward the notion that some people can make decisions on the value of humans and do away with the ones deemed “not worthy of life.” Is this action God-pleasing? Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31)

Life Lines for October 12, 2008
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville

Sunday, October 5, 2008 was Respect Life Sunday. The weather was absolute perfection as soldiers of Christ stood curbside in quiet demonstration against the atrocity of abortion. We held signs as a witness to all who passed by as a reminder of the 50 MILLION babies that our nation has allowed to be slaughtered on the altar of “choice” for the past 35 years, eight months and 13 days. The majority of motorists, who saw us waved, gave a “thumbs up” or honked in support of our witness against abortion. Only one driver was vocal with a differing point of view.

The tide has turned over the last few years and the majority of true Americans are totally against abortion on demand during all nine months of pregnancy. The effort put forth to educate the citizens of our nation on the evils of abortion have paid off. But, the battle is far from over. In fact, Nov. 4, 2008 is judgment day in my opinion. On that day we have within our grasp the ability to accelerate the day when abortion on demand for all nine months of pregnancy will no longer be the law of the land. The power is in the hands of American citizens to choose a leader who will support and protect the sanctity of human life or one who will not.

I cannot tell someone who to vote for, but I can remind voters to vote the way their conscience leads them to vote. Fr. Frank Pavone stated, "When you vote, you say something about where your loyalties are." There is nothing wrong with being loyal to a candidate or to a political party. But there is something very wrong if your loyalty to either is stronger than your loyalty to Jesus Christ. Ask yourself, "Is there a position that my party can take that would prevent me from voting the party line?" Framed in another way, the question is, "Is my loyalty to the Christian faith stronger than my loyalty to any political party?" When you go to the polls on Nov. 4, just remember the first right … is the right to life, from conception to its natural end, which is the condition for the exercise of all other rights.

Matthew 6:33. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Proverbs 25:26. Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

Life Lines for October 19, 2008
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville

There is a killing center located in Granite City, IL that goes by the name of the Hope Clinic. Why that name? It certainly doesn’t give hope to the unborn child who is about to be killed. Nor does it give hope to the woman carrying the child who will experience pain and possibly tragic medical complications, followed by guilt. That leaves the Hope Clinic as the party in the killing of the unborn with the most to gain … money!

Yes, killing the unborn is a profitable business. I checked the clinic’s website for fee information. Killing the unborn fees start at $375.00 and advance to $2000.00+. The first trimester (up to 14 weeks gestation) fees range from $375.00 to $555.00 and with the exception of first eight weeks of pregnancy which uses the abortion pill, the rest of the abortions are performed by vacuum aspiration.

Vacuum aspiration is the most common method of abortion during the first trimester. The mouth (cervix) of the womb is dilated. Sometimes this can cause serious damage because during pregnancy the cervix is closed tightly to protect the unborn baby. A hollow tube with a knife like edged tip is inserted into the womb and a strong suction tears the baby limb from limb into pieces that will flow through the tube into a container. Afterwards, the baby is reassembled to ensure that all parts were removed. From 15 – 24 weeks gestation, the clinic uses the two‐day D&E method of abortion. During this procedure the cervix of the womb is dilated and a curette (loop-shaped knife) is then used to dismember the unborn baby and the body parts along with its crushed head are removed by ring forceps. Once again, the baby is reassembled to ensure all parts were removed. After 24 weeks gestation procedures are on a case‐by‐case basis only.

So what happens to the babies once they have been torn from the womb without benefit of anesthesia? They are bagge and tagged and sent to medical research labs, pharmaceutical and cosmetic firms. (The Hope Clinic sends baby body parts to Washington University in St. Louis, MO).

Is the killing center in Granite City, IL God pleasing? Are you helping to stop the insane slaughter of our unborn children?

Proverbs 21:13. If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.

Life Lines for October 26, 2008
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville

Today we celebrate Reformation Sunday, a time when Martin Luther brought about one of the greatest transformations in world history when he started in motion the Reformation. We Americans are a little over a week away from Election Day, a day when we will also see a transformation start to take place in our great nation, no matter who is elected president. Important decisions will be made on that day and hopefully voters have armed themselves with knowledge of how the candidates stand on issues important to the voters.

But, how many of us take the right to vote for granted? What if you were denied the right for vote? 50 million Americans will never have the right to vote because since 1973 they have been denied the first right … the right to Life! Some of those aborted children would now be working, paying taxes and raising their own family. But instead, through the decision of only seven men on the Supreme Court, our government allows the killing of the unborn. Would you support a candidate who gave his blessing to terrorism? Of course you wouldn’t and yet that same candidate may support the right to kill the unborn.

Abortion is also a violent means of killing innocent humans and is the ultimate act in denying human rights and the right to life. If a candidate says he does not support the sanctity of human life for our most vulnerable humans, how can he/she be trusted to respect your rights? The most elementary principle of our government maintains that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness … to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men.”

When abortion became legal, it broke the very founding principle of our government. That is why a candidate’s position on abortion is about more than just abortion. It boils down to the kind of authority our government has. Candidates should promote policies and laws that advance the common good and dignity of a person. If a candidate violates these basic principles, they violate the very purpose they seek for public office.

Abortion is only a portion of how human life is promoted as disposable. We have embryonic stem cell research, killing the disabled, allowing infants born alive through botched abortions to die instead of receiving medical assistance and physician-assisted suicide. All of these are moral principles that should be under the protection of our government. But instead, our government allows and promotes these atrocities to occur. For this reason, we should seek God’s guidance through prayer and His Word when entering the polling booth.

Matthew 6:33. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Life Lines for November 2, 2008
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville

Election Day 2008 is only two days away now and there are many issues that will be directly affected by who is elected our new president.

One bill that is of great importance to me is titled the Freedom of Choice Act, otherwise known as FOCA. If this bill were passed by both chambers of Congress and signed by a pro-abortion president it would provide for taxpayer funded abortion on demand even late in pregnancy, grant abortionists immunity from legal action, allow abortionists the discretion to perform abortions on minors without contacting a parent and also deny health care workers the right to refuse to make abortion referrals as a matter of individual conscience or moral authority.

But this is just a wind-up for the damage that FOCA would inflict. FOCA would automatically overturn state abortion reporting requirements in all 50 states, 44 states’ laws concerning parental involvement, 40 states’ laws on restricting later-term abortions, 46 states’ conscience protection laws for individual health care providers, 27 states’ conscience protection laws for institutions, 38 states’ bans on partial-birth abortions, 33 states’ laws on requiring counseling before an abortion, and 16 states’ laws concerning ultrasounds before an abortion.

FOCA also seeks to eliminate any civil pro-life opposition in the public arena. This would not only include federal and state legislators who merely introduce legislation seeking restrictions on abortion but also against peaceful pro-lifers who pray and offer alternatives in front of abortion facilities. This is an extremely dangerous law and one of the 2008 presidential candidates has promised Planned Parenthood that his first act as new president would be to sign FOCA into law. Can we allow such a sweeping pro-death law to pass in our nation? What are we doing and saying to future generations? Future generations need to be taught the value of human life and to choose life over the culture of death.

We must stand strong against the work of Satan who wants death for everyone. Satan wants women to choose death for their children, not life. Satan desires and whispers encouragement to weak men who will not step up to the responsibility of caring for women and children. The time is now to say “enough!”

Genesis 9:6. Whoever sheds human blood, by humans his blood will be shed, because in the image of God, God made humans.

Life Lines for November 9, 2008
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville

Support and Give Thanks for Our Troops

My husband and I are traveling in Colorado this week to meet and thank a very special Vietnam veteran. The veteran’s name is John Keller and he is the pilot who picked up the soldiers, including my husband Richard Strubbe, who were injured when my husband’s helicopter crashed at An Khe Pass, So. Vietnam on October 8, 1966. It has taken help from some dedicated veterans in order to find this pilot, but through the Internet we did make contact with him and he invited us to drive out for a visit. Mr. Keller is taking us to the Veteran’s Day service at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO and we are both looking forward to it.The following is a tribute to the amazing American Soldier.

Always remember that as “One Nation, Under God” the United States of America is far removed from the turmoil and danger that is experienced around the world on a daily basis, and that we are so very blessed to live where we do. For this wonderful gift of peace and freedom we have only one person to give thanks to … the American Soldier.

Remember that the men and women of the United States Military have freely chosen to protect us and give us this gift and we owe them our very freedom and liberty.

It is a gift that can never be reciprocated in full, and only asks for remembrance and some measure of respect in return.

Many American Soldiers will not come home from their stations of turmoil and danger around the world to be with their families and friends for the holidays.

The American Soldier will stand steadfast and strong, continuing to protect us and fight for freedom in places around the world with conditions that we cannot even begin to imagine.

May God Bless them and their families, and may He hold them safe in His arms until they come home again.

Ephesians 6:10-15. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

Life Lines for November 16, 2008
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville

One person CAN make difference and many like-minded souls can make a huge difference! I found this out a few weeks back when I acted upon an upsetting article I read. It seems that two hotels in New Jersey had been accused of giving significant discounts to women/girls who could prove they had had an abortion. The parent company for these two hotels was Choice Hotels, the chain of hotels that my husband and I have stayed in for the past several years while traveling. I was outraged so I wrote to the company and asked for an explanation for such a policy. (I also asked why they didn’t instead have pro-life alternative pamphlets available in the hotel lobby). The following is the answer I received.

Dear Jeanne Strubbe:

Thank you for contacting us regarding your concerns about two hotels that are a part of the Choice Hotels franchise system. We appreciate your input on this matter. We have received several similar inquires. These two hotels, like all of our more than 4,600 franchised properties in the United States , are independently owned and operated.

This means that each individual, independent hotel owner has the right to set its own local marketing policies and practices, which includes negotiating rates with local businesses and organizations. While Choice as a franchisor develops national marketing programs, rates and promotion programs such as these are set locally.

As a result of inquiries like yours, The Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, upon reflection, has ended this practice of offering special rates to patients of the Cherry Hill Women’s Center.

In addition, we have been advised by the Quality Inn in Maple Shade that any assertions of a similar discount at that hotel are false.

Thank you again for alerting us to this important issue. We hope you can now feel more comfortable about staying at our hotels.

Sincerely,

Mark Weiner
Vice President, Customer Care and Reservations
Choice Hotels International, Inc.

Ephesians 5:6-17 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Life Lines for November 23, 2008
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville

Her name is Gianna Jessen and she is a survivor … literally. Gianna does not quit. Giving up is not an option to her. Gianna has what she refers to as the "gift" of Cerebral Palsy. She weighed a mere 2 lbs at birth and the doctors said she would never be able to hold up her head, sit up, crawl or walk. She began to walk by the age of three years old with the help of leg braces and a walker. Gianna doesn’t believe that her Cerebral Palsy takes away her life, but, rather, enriches it. . . she walks with a slight limp today and runs marathons. On April 30, 2005 she completed her first 26.2 mile marathon after running just over 7 hours and was presented with the coveted blank blank award! On April 23, 2006 she completed the London Marathon as well. She is now determined to run marathons all over the place, because she was never supposed to even walk!

Gianna understands the plight of orphans, being one herself. She was placed into the foster care system early on in life, eventually being taken into the loving home of a woman named Penny. Penny has been a mother to 56 foster children in her life. Gianna was later adopted by Penny's daughter, making Penny Gianna's grandmother. According to Gianna, Penny saved her life.

Gianna is a Christian. Her life was given to her by the grace of God. She shouldn't be walking, but more miraculous still; she should not even be alive. Gianna's biological mother was 17 when she had a saline abortion in her third trimester. Many Americans don’t realize it is legal to have an abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy. After being burned alive for approximately 18 hours in the womb from the saline solution, Gianna was delivered alive in a Los Angeles County abortion clinic. Her medical records state, "born during saline abortion"...this is what caused her Cerebral Palsy.

Gianna's travels and experiences have led her all over the world. Her life has been covered by many major news media outlets, including, most recently, the BBC News and World Radio, Sky News, and The Good Morning Show in England, reaching many people with a message of hope and conviction. Gianna’s audiences include: churches - church youth crusades and women’s ministry retreats; various corporations as a motivational speaker; secular and Christian youth organizations and schools – middle school age through college, as well as several times before Congress - most recently having her testimony read before the Supreme Court in Carhart v. Gonzales. Yes, Gianna is a survivor … a person of worth. She is also a human who, according to president-elect Barack Obama, should have been allowed to die after surviving the saline method abortion instead of receiving the life saving medical treatment she was given.

Romans 16:17-19. I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

Life Lines for December 7, 2008
Submitted by Jeanne Strubbe
Compliments of National Lutherans for Life

December 7 – 2nd Sunday in Advent – "Speak tenderly to Jerusalem" (Isaiah 40:2a) literally reads, "Speak to the heart of Jerusalem." The message directed to sin-burdened hearts comforts as no other. "Her warfare is ended … her iniquity is pardoned" (40:2b). All sinners receive comfort from this message. Those who have sinned against life particularly need it spoken to their hearts and applied to their sin. Such preaching does not offend; it frees.

“Given the climate of our times where the humanity of the unborn is denied and the value of the humanity of the disabled is questioned, it becomes more important than ever to focus on God’s gracious fulfillment of these promises (Malachi 3:1; Isaiah 7:14). For they give value to all humanity, born and unborn, healthy and frail.”

Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb, executive director of Lutherans For Life

Life Lines for December 21, 2008
Written by Jeanne Strubbe
Life Ministry Coordinator
Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville

Last week I spoke about the Freedom of Choice Act and some of the devastating consequences it would render on our nation if it passes into law. I want to point out some more things to think about concerning the proposed legislation because the language in this proposed legislation is far more liberal than most Americans would think possible.

The elite news media would prefer to keep the majority of Americans in the dark as long as possible. But this bill is so sweeping that it would eliminate virtually every pro-life law previously enacted by Congress and state legislatures. It would void the bans on partial-birth abortions that life-supporting folks fought to hard to pass and get through the courts. It would also eliminate any parental notice and consent laws and also eliminate the informed consent laws for women.

In addition, it would FORCE taxpayers to pay for elective abortions, which could lead to more abortions resulting in additional deaths at the hands of abortionists. At the heart of FOCA is President-elect Obama who vowed to Planned Parenthood on July 17, 2008 to pass this legislation as his first act as the new president. Obama is so radical in his pro-death views that he voted AGAINST protecting babies who survived an abortion while in the Illinois state senate. An ally in Obama’s radical agenda to promote further killing of the unborn is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Together, they will fight hard to enact their dream of passing FOCA into law.

Stay alert to the work of the devil. Everyone who has a heart for the unborn must rise up and take a stand against FOCA. Call and write letters to boldly express your opposition to such legislation.

Senator Richard Durbin,
309 Hart Senate Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2152.
Fax (202) 228-0400.

For now you can contact
Rep. Aaron Schock at PO Box 10555, Peoria, IL 61612.
Phone, 309-693-9393 or fax 309-693-9580.

DC contact information for Rep. Schock is unavailable until after Jan. 1, 2009.

We cannot sit still while our country crumbles from the inside out.

“If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discernment, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in Christianity, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it.” Charles G. Finney