David Whiting Live

A Sad Birthday - Imagine Life Without Apple

It is a sad birthday today (instead of a Happy one).

Perhaps we can recognize the significance of today by sharing a story.

Over half of American homes now have at least one Apple product in them. I am typing this in an MacBook Pro and my iPhone and iPad are sitting nearby. Each of my girls have an iPod and one of my daughters bought herself an iPhone.

Steve Jobs has made a huge technological "splash" in the world through his leadership at Apple.

But abortion could have eliminated all of this technology.

Steve was given up for adoption in 1955 by his unwed mother, Joanne Shieble. Abortion was not an easy option in the small Catholic community where she lived so she ultimately took shelter in San Francisco under the care of a doctor who provided for unwed mothers, delivered their babies, and arranged for adoptions.

Steve was always told about his birth mother but he never tryied to connect with her under his mom, Clara Jobs, died in 1986.

He said he didn't want his adoptive parents to feel like they weren't his parents. But after the death of his mom, he felt ready to meet his birth mom. He told his biographer, "I wanted to meet my biological mother mostly to see if she was okay and to thank her, because I'm glad I didn't end up as an abortion. She was twenty-three and she went through a lot to have me."

If abortion had been legal - I wonder what the world would have missed.

And so today - I offer a "Sad Birthday" on the 40th anniversay of Roe v Wade, and I wonder how many other potential Steve Jobs have been eliminated through abortion. Centainly many of the 55 million aborted babies would have made an impact on all of our lives.

Most Dangerous Place in America

"Since Roe v. Wade, the womb has been the most dangerous place that an American has even been. There is a one-third fatality rate between conception and birth. We didn't have a one-third fatality rate at Iwo Jima. We didn't have a one-third fatality rate at Omaha Beach. We didn't have a one-third fatality rate at the battle of Gettysburg, even if you count the deaths on both sides."

- Richard Land

10 Questions a Pro-Choice Candidate Is Never Asked by the Media

There are a lot of important issues at the time of an election. I'm not sure any are more important than abortion (because I know of no other national issue involving the intentional, direct killing of a human being). Some would say that makes me a single-issue voter (and perhaps I will comment on that at another time). But yesterday Trevin Wax listed ten questions a pro-choice candidate is never asked by the media (but should be). I love these questions! You can see the original post here.

I think these questions are brilliant. As you read them - stop and consider how amazing these questions are and how important they are. And imagine how any candidate might answer them.

Here it is reposted...

Debate moderators and reporters love to ask pro-life candidates hard questions about abortion. Curiously, they don’t do the same for pro-choice candidates.

Here are 10 questions you never hear a pro-choice candidate asked by the media:

1. You say you support a woman’s right to make her own reproductive choices in regards to abortion and contraception. Are there any restrictions you would approve of?

2. In 2010, The Economist featured a cover story on “the war on girls” and the growth of “gendercide” in the world – abortion based solely on the sex of the baby. Does this phenomenon pose a problem for you or do you believe in the absolute right of a woman to terminate a pregnancy because the unborn fetus is female?

3. In many states, a teenager can have an abortion without her parents’ consent or knowledge but cannot get an aspirin from the school nurse without parental authorization. Do you support any restrictions or parental notification regarding abortion access for minors?

4. If you do not believe that human life begins at conception, when do you believe it begins? At what stage of development should an unborn child have human rights?

5. Currently, when genetic testing reveals an unborn child has Down Syndrome, most women choose to abort. How do you answer the charge that this phenomenon resembles the “eugenics” movement a century ago – the slow, but deliberate “weeding out” of those our society would deem “unfit” to live?

6. Do you believe an employer should be forced to violate his or her religious conscience by providing access to abortifacient drugs and contraception to employees?

7. Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King, Jr. has said that “abortion is the white supremacist’s best friend,” pointing to the fact that Black and Latinos represent 25% of our population but account for 59% of all abortions. How do you respond to the charge that the majority of abortion clinics are found in inner-city areas with large numbers of minorities?

8. You describe abortion as a “tragic choice.” If abortion is not morally objectionable, then why is it tragic? Does this mean there is something about abortion that is different than other standard surgical procedures?

9. Do you believe abortion should be legal once the unborn fetus is viable – able to survive outside the womb?

10. If a pregnant woman and her unborn child are murdered, do you believe the criminal should face two counts of murder and serve a harsher sentence?

So - what do you think? Do you think these are fair questions?

"Vogue" Magazine's agreement

Just recently, in an attempt to promote healthier body images among their readers, all 19 different editions of "Vogue" magazine have agreed not to knowingly hire models under the age of 16 or models who appear to have an eating disorder.

Really? This is an agreement they need to come to? And what does it say about our culure that people buy 19 different editions of this magazine AND that models with obvious eating disorders "sell" to people of our culture? I'm not sure if the need for this agreement says more about "Vogue" or our culture.

"Don't Pity Me" - Patrick's Story

This weekend I had the great privilege of going to Detroit to hear my friend, Patrick, preach what will likely be his last Sunday AM sermon at the church in which he has served for over twelve years. I mentioned Patrick's ALS in a post last year called "I Hate Living In a Fallen World."  You can read that HERE.

I would encourage you to take an hour and listen to Patrick's sermon. You can listen HERE. Once you click on that link - listen to the sermon by Patrick McGoldrick. I promise, you will laugh... and cry. I will let the sermon speak for itself.

 

The Burden of Abortion - part 2

Yesterday I wrote about the burden of abortion. You can read that HERE if you missed it.

I mentioned that I wanted to present a couple of options.

OPTION 1: Help us give out the "180 Movie" DVD.

Many small groups have been on a break before the final tri-mester starts this next week. But many have been meeting during the break, and those who met a couple of weeks ago watched a video called "180" about abortion. It was the week when I preached on birth control. We thought having them discuss the ultimate "birth control" (abortion) would be a good topic.

The videos we purchased and had groups watch had quite an impact. Many groups (including mine) ended the video with the thought of "what can we do?" One small group has started a movement to get the movie into the hands of every attender of Northridge. To do that, we need to raise $1000. Attenders of Northridge can watch the video, show it to others, and even pass it along to those who need to think differently about abortion. This video is the best anti-abortion argument I've ever seen. I think it makes a great, convincing argument.

If you want to help us raise the $1000 to pass out this video - you can talk to Scott Bixby, your small group leader or me about it. Some groups are giving "together" to do it as a group project. You also can give using an envelope that will be at the info desk the next couple of Sundays. Put a check or cash in the envelope and turn it in to the info desk or the offering basket.

OPTION 2: Support your local Pro-Life organization by donating or walking.

For us in Rochester, that is CompassCare (click on the name for their website). This is a good time to talk about this because they are raising funds for their "Vision Walk" - which is a fund raiser for their ministry. I have confidence that CompassCare is making a difference in women's lives in Rochester when it comes to abortion. You can support CompassCare by supporting a couple in our church who are doing the Vision Walk. Matt & Belinda Sones are raising funds HERE.

Or if you choose to get even more involved in the Vision Walk - you can participate in the walk on May 19th. You can receive a fundraising packet by emailing Matt Sones here: matt.sones@compasscare.info. There is more about the Walk on Facebook: click HERE.

Those are two small ways to make a difference. I'm sure there are other ways too. But these are two current possibilities. Do you have other suggestions? Until you figure out a better way to fight abortion in our country, would you consider joining me in one or both of these two options?

The Burden of Abortion - part 1

I often pray that abortion will become as morally outrageous to future generations as the Holocaust or racism is to our generation. I truly hope that occurs as soon as possible.

And I imagine how that future generation may view us - who lived while abortion is legal and accepted by a majority of Americans. I have wondered if my grandchildren will look at me in twenty years and say, "Grandpa, I can't believe abortion used to be legal! What did YOU DO to stop abortion from happening?" I imagine that question all the time. Frankly, I fear that question. And I only have a few things I do and have done:

• I support some great pro-life organizations fiscally
• I preach about it whenever it comes up in the texts I'm teaching
• We direct attention and funds from our church budget to a great, local pro-life ministry
• I won't vote for a pro-abortion candidate (any more than I'd vote for a candidate in favor of genocide) regardless of their party affiliation
• I make sure my daughters understand the moral atrocity of abortion

My fear is that my grandchildren will say, "That's it? That's all you did?" And I will have to look at them with shame and say, "Yes" or I will have to try to justify why it was "enough."

I am opposed to killing abortion doctors, obviously. I don't think picketing is the best way to go. So what CAN we do? What SHOULD we do? Without neglecting the Great Commission and making it our sole or primary mission - what can we and should we do to stop abortion?

Tomorrow, I want to present a couple of options. But I'd love to hear how you would answer that question to your grandchildren if our culture became as morally opposed to abortion as we are to genocide. What would you say? Are we doing enough? What should we do?

I Hate Living in a Fallen World (bad news)

I received some very bad news this week. One of my very closest ministry friends, Patrick McGoldrick, has been diagnosed with ALS. I have learned more about ALS in the last couple of days than I knew in the last couple of decades. The current average life expectancy from diagnosis is two to five years - although 25% of those diagnosed live longer than five years.

Patrick and Dena have been important and influential friends in our lives. When I was a youth pastor, I had no closer youth pastor friend than Patrick. Twice a year we hung out together for a week at a time through our youth ministries. We even went on the same mission trip together with our students one year (2000). I grew up with Dena and our families were close friends - so she and I have known each other most of our lives. Patrick and Dena were also our primary influencers on our view of parenting. We watched them parent their first child and told each other, "I don't know what they are doing, but we are going to parent like that!" And we asked a lot of questions and they influenced us in a huge way. Although in recent years, we no longer see each other every year - Patrick is still a close, dear friend and my heart is breaking for him and Dena. and their two great kids!

I also find myself overwhelmed by how much I hate living in a fallen world. I hate that we live in a fallen world where disease comes to those who love God. I hate that we live in a fallen world where death separates families. I hate that sin doesn't just impact the sinner. Sin that entered the world through Adam impacts all of us. And it is painful that my friends, Patrick and Dena, are living such painful consequences of living in a fallen world.

I am experiencing a lot of sorrow this week over this news, but not as one with no hope. I have a great and eternal hope! And so do my friends Patrick & Dena! But this week... I'm just sad.

 

The Most Effective Method to Stop Abortion

I've been told that the most effective method to stop abortion is showing the mother an ultrasound of her baby. That makes sense. Any mom or dad that has seen their child in the womb knows it is a moving, unforgettable experience.

Compass Care (our local pro-life organization), in my opinion, is on the cutting edge of strategies for helping moms make good choices. And they need some help from pregnant moms!  To help convince pregnant women to not have abortions, they need to do more training of their nurses on how to do ultrasounds. So - if you are in your first trimester, want to help stop abortions, and want to receive a free ultrasound - get in touch with Compass Care.

They didn't ask me to post this - I just think this is an amazing way to get involved in a great ministry and be blessed at the same time.

 

Politics, Protests and Boycotts - a GREAT video!

A couple of Sundays ago - I taught on FOUNDATIONAL POLITICS. (you can see or listen to it HERE). I spoke about my frustrations of Christian boycotts.

It is interesting that just recently the "boycotting" tool often misused by Christians was used by the pro-homosexual community to keep the CEO of Starbucks (Howard Shultz) from speaking at the Willow Creek Leadership Conference. Willow Creek is one of the largest churches in America and is pastored by Bill Hybels (who tends to draw a lot of criticism from those inside and outside the Church).

The pro-homosexual community had only 717 people sign a petition to boycott Starbucks if their CEO speaks at Willow Creek Church. The petition declared Willow Creek to be an anti-gay church. But the petition was enough to cause the CEO to cancel his speaking engagement at the Leadership Conference.

There is SO much I can say about it, but what I really wanted to point out is the great way that Willow Creek responded to Shultz and to the organizers of the petition. 

It would be worth 7 minutes of your time to watch how a godly leader responds to controversy from non-Christians.  Listen CLOSELY! What a great response! I love what he instructs the attenders of the conference to do!

 

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